Social Currency with Sammi Cohen

Epizódok

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  Kory Marchisotto (e.l.f. Beauty) on Acquiring Rhode, Building a Billion-Dollar Brand and Responding When Campaigns Don’t Land 28.07.2026 1ó 5p

  When Kory Marchisotto joined e.l.f. Beauty, the company had less than 10% brand awareness and roughly $200 million in revenue. Today, e.l.f.’s brands generate approximately $1.8 billion in global consumption—and have become some of the most culturally relevant names in beauty. In this episode, Kory joins Sammi from the Cannes Lions Festival to explain how she brought the rigor of luxury brand-building to an affordable beauty company designed for the “happy many” rather than the “happy few.” She shares why every major decision at e.l.f. begins with its community, how the company turns comments and cultural signals into campaigns, and the story behind the e.l.f. language that helped create the brand’s cult following. Kory also takes Sammi inside e.l.f.’s billion-dollar acquisition of Hailey Bieber’s Rhode, including the business metrics and shared values that made the partnership stand out. She explains why e.l.f. publicly addressed its first global price increase, how the company maintains premium quality and strict safety standards at accessible prices, and why it continues to enter unexpected spaces like Twitch, Roblox, gaming, sports, and the Super Bowl. Plus, Kory reveals how her team created a Jennifer Coolidge Super Bowl campaign in less than three weeks, the framework she uses when a marketing campaign doesn’t land, and why e.l.f. has granted $250 million in stock to employees outside the C-suite. Toward the end, she opens up about the deeply personal ambition inspired by her father and shares the simple three-step system e.l.f. uses to move from an idea to execution. Follow Sammi Cohen on Instagram  Read more about e.l.f. x Rhode, e.l.f. x Twitch, the Super Bowl ad, and So Many Dicks Here’s What Sammi Covers with Kory: 00:00 Kory Marchisotto’s Social Currency 02:27 What Cannes Taught Kory About Great Creative Work 04:44 How e.l.f. Grew From $200 Million to $1.8 Billion 06:36 Bringing Luxury Brand-Building to Affordable Beauty 09:48 Serving the “Happy Many,” Not the “Happy Few” 10:56 Why Every e.l.f. Idea Starts With the Community 12:53 Finding the Answers Between the Comments 16:44 What Kory Initially Thought of the Name e.l.f. 17:30 How e.l.f. Created Its Own Language 20:18 The F-Bomb That Inspired an e.l.f. Bomb 22:22 Does Hair Still Fit Into Eyes, Lips, Face? 24:29 Inside e.l.f.’s Billion-Dollar Acquisition of Rhode 25:47 Why Rhode’s Growth Was So Rare 27:00 The Dinner That Sealed the Partnership 28:31 Why e.l.f. Publicly Announced Its Price Increase 31:00 How e.l.f. Delivers Prestige Quality Under $10 31:43 What “Clean Beauty” Actually Means at e.l.f. 32:48 Why e.l.f. Entered Twitch and Roblox 33:30 The Brand Ethos Behind Every Marketing Decision 35:36 Creating a Safe Space for Women in Gaming 38:03 Making a Super Bowl Ad in Three Weeks 40:11 Building the Muscle to Move at e.l.f. Speed 41:40 The Cultural Insight Behind an 11-Day Campaign 43:17 What to Do When a Marketing Campaign Misses 44:24 Kory’s Three-Part Crisis Framework 47:25 Why Every e.l.f. Employee Receives Stock 48:00 Operating Like a Startup at a $2 Billion Company 50:48 The Personal Story Behind Kory’s Ambition 53:46 The Accomplishments She Wishes Her Father Could See 54:30 Lightning Round 54:54 The Beauty Trend Kory Would Retire Tomorrow 55:23 Kory’s Favorite e.l.f. Collaboration 57:00 Vision, Alignment, Execution58:19 How Young Is Too Young for Beauty Products? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Jennifer Wong (Aritzia) on Rising from Sales Associate to CEO, the Styling Suite Experience, and Building a Generational Brand 21.07.2026 52p

  Jennifer Wong started as a Sales Associate at Aritzia… 39-years later, she’s running the company as CEO. Today, Jennifer joins Sammi to share how she almost left Aritzia for a career in banking, why founder Brian Hill convinced her to stay, and what it was like succeeding him after nearly four decades working alongside him. She explains the philosophy behind Aritzia's "everyday luxury," why the company has continued investing in physical retail while others have pulled back, and the thinking behind some of its most distinctive experiences (think mirrorless fitting rooms and complimentary personal styling appointments). Jennifer also breaks down how Aritzia navigated tariffs and supply chain disruptions, why timeless design is central to the brand's sustainability strategy, and what she thinks so many direct-to-consumer brands got wrong. Plus, she shares the leadership principles that have helped Aritzia retain employees for decades and why she still visits boutiques every few months. Follow ⁠Sammi Cohen on Instagram ⁠ Subscribe to ⁠the Social Currency newsletter⁠ Follow Jennifer Wong and ⁠Aritzia⁠ Here's What Sammi Covers with Jennifer: 00:00 Jennifer Wong's Social Currency 02:14 How Jennifer Went From Sales Associate to CEO 04:03 The Banking Job She Almost Took 06:08 The Conversation That Changed Her Career 07:22 Saying Yes to Every Opportunity08:41 Aritzia's "40-Year Overnight Success" 10:28 Succeeding Founder Brian Hill as CEO 14:12 Why Aritzia Is Still Betting on Physical Retail 15:35 The Strategy Behind Mirrorless Fitting Rooms 18:17 Inside Aritzia's Styling Experience 20:47 Defining "Everyday Luxury" 21:09 How Aritzia Built a Multi-Generational Brand 23:33 Designing Clothes That Feel Timeless 25:27 Why Aritzia Creates Its Own Brands 27:14 Jennifer's Take on Sustainable Fashion 29:25 How Aritzia Prepared for the Tariffs 31:00 The Supply Chain Pivot That Happened in One Month 33:28 Why Aritzia Keeps Menswear Separate 35:01 The Secret to 39 Years of Employee Retention 37:04 What Jennifer Looks for When Hiring 39:25 The Future of Fred Segal 42:44 Jennifer's Leadership System 43:40 Why She Visits Every Boutique 44:44 What Aritzia Thinks Other Retailers Get Wrong 45:41 Why Brand Has Always Come First 47:48 Never Losing Sight of the Customer 49:08 What's Missing From Most In-Store Shopping Experiences Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Laney Crowell (Saie Beauty) on Raising Her First $1 Million, Building a Top Sephora Brand, and Magazine Culture 14.07.2026 1ó

  What started as Laney Crowell's passion for magazines, beauty, and storytelling became Saie Beauty, one of the fastest-growing clean beauty brands in the world and a standout success story at Sephora. In this episode, Laney joins Sammi to share how she went from working in editorial and at Estée Lauder to raising her first million dollars with no fundraising experience, launching Saie just months before the pandemic, and turning an early rejection from Sephora into a nationwide launch. She explains why she wanted Saie to be a top 10 Sephora brand from day one and the tactical fundraising lessons she wishes every founder knew. Plus, she opens up about the realities of leading a fast-growing company, the trade-offs of building her dream business while raising two children, and what still keeps her up at night as CEO. Follow Sammi Cohen on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter Follow what Laney is working on with Saie Here's What Sammi Covers with Laney: 00:00 Laney Crowell's Social Currency 02:00 Feeling Like She Was Meant to Be a Founder 06:34 Why Resilience Is a Founder's Greatest Skill 08:00 Storytelling as a Competitive Advantage 12:51 Fundraising Without Any Experience 14:21 The Power of "Expanders" 16:21 Raising Her First $1 Million 17:23 Why Every "No" Gets You Closer to a "Yes" 18:30 Perfecting the Pitch One Meeting at a Time 19:47 Building Saie to Be a Top Sephora Brand 21:03 Why Investors Bet on Founders, Not Ideas 23:52 Sephora's First Rejection 26:22 The Call That Changed Everything 28:18 Launching Through COVID 29:24 Building a Beauty Brand During a Downturn 31:21 The Three Most Important Early Hires 34:37 How Laney Hires Great People 36:13 Why Sustainability Has to Be Built Into the Business 41:16 What Actually Brings Customers to Saie 42:07 Staying Focused in a Crowded Industry 43:39 What Keeps Laney Up at Night 45:46 Why Community Is Beauty's Most Misused Buzzword 47:33 Creating Value Beyond the Product 48:28 Why Founder-Led Content Matters More Than Ever 49:45 The Trade-Offs of Building a Dream Company 51:05 Laney's Biggest Pinch-Me Moment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Haley Sacks (Mrs. Dow Jones) on Money Psychology, Wealth Hacks, and How to Say No to an Expensive Bachelorette 07.07.2026 1ó 6p

  From the FIRE movement, to the rent versus buy debate and financial fibs, today Sammi is tackling the biggest money questions of the moment with Haley Sacks. Haley Sacks (Mrs. Dow Jones) has become one of the most influential voices in financial education, building a media empire around the idea that the secrets to wealth should be available to everyone. Haley joins Sammi to discuss the psychology behind our earliest money beliefs, why she publicly pushed back on "girl math," and the money moves future rich people are making now. They also dive into creator entrepreneurship, including how Haley turned comedy into a seven-figure business, why newsletters are her most valuable asset, and the revenue strategy behind building a sustainable creator business.  Follow Sammi Cohen on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter Check out Haley’s book Future Rich Person Here’s What Sammi Covers with Haley: 00:00 Haley Sacks’ Social Currency 02:06 When Do You Become a "Future Rich Person"? 04:05 Growing Up Around Wealth Without Financial Literacy 06:02 Why Your Relationship With Money Is Formed by Age Seven 08:17 The Money Advice Women Actually Need 09:34 Building a Career Before the Creator Economy Existed 12:44 The Comedy Rule Behind Haley’s Content 16:00 Audience vs. Community 18:20 Why IRL Is More Important Than Ever 19:28 Why Haley Thinks "Girl Math" Is Harmful 22:27 Money Is a Relationship, Not Just a Number 24:31 Haley’s Take on the Trad Wife Movement 29:47 Friends Should Share Salaries 35:03 How Haley Built a Seven-Figure Creator Business 36:00 Why Newsletters Beat Social Media 37:49 Creator vs. Creator-Entrepreneur 40:47 Financial Advice vs. Financial Education 43:13 Does Personal Responsibility Ignore Systemic Problems? 47:34 The Hardest Chapter of Future Rich Person 50:12 Why Every Creator Should Start a Podcast 54:03 Is the FIRE Movement a Cult? 55:27 Renting Forever: Smart or Financial Failure? 57:05 Should You Ever Lie to Your Partner About Money? 58:18 The Worst Money Advice on TikTok 59:34 Haley’s Most Defensible Splurge 01:00:42 Therapy or a Financial Advisor First? 01:02:05 Haley’s Productivity System 01:03:52 Navigating Rising Prices Without Giving Up 01:07:12 How to Say "No" to an Expensive Bachelorette Party Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Jamie Siminoff (Ring) on Near Bankruptcy, Amazon, and Shark Tank 30.06.2026 1ó 7p

  What does building a billion-dollar company actually feel like? According to Ring founder Jamie Siminoff, it's far less glamorous than most founder stories make it seem. Jamie joins Sammi to unpack the journey from almost running out of money to building Ring into one of the biggest consumer tech acquisitions in history. He explains why entrepreneurship can be deeply traumatic, how close Ring came to bankruptcy before appearing on Shark Tank, and why the rejection that made headlines wasn't nearly as important as what happened afterward. They also discuss why Jamie spent nearly all of Ring's remaining cash buying Ring.com, the lawsuit that nearly destroyed Amazon's acquisition, why he eventually walked away from running Ring despite loving the company, and what brought him back years later. Follow Sammi Cohen on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter Check out Jamie’s book Ding Dong 00:00 Jamie Siminoff’s Social Currency 02:03 Partner Message: Mercury for Business Banking 03:22 Why Entrepreneurship Is More Traumatic Than People Admit 05:20 Why Jamie Came Back to Ring 07:30 Life After Selling Ring to Amazon 08:50 Knowing When It's Time to Walk Away 09:30 Why Retirement Didn't Last 11:10 The Story Jamie Almost Didn't Tell 13:15 Why You Shouldn't Start a Company for Money 14:30 The Mission Behind Ring 16:00 Can You Actually Measure Safer Neighborhoods? 18:00 Partner Message: Rula 19:14 Partner Message: Mercury for Personal Banking 20:28 The Customer Stories That Make It All Worth It 22:00 How Ring Became a Household Name 24:15 How Close Ring Came to Bankruptcy 26:05 The Shark Tank Effect 27:13 Why Rejection Wasn't Ring's Biggest Break 29:07 The Survivorship Bias of Entrepreneurship 30:19 Why AI Will Reward Builders 31:46 The $1 Million Bet on Ring.com 35:30 Why "DoorBot" Had to Die 36:44 Rebuilding Ring From Scratch 37:07 Partner Message: Bilt 38:08 The Lawsuit That Almost Killed the Amazon Deal 40:40 From the Highest High to the Lowest Low 42:30 The Settlement That Saved Ring 43:24 Building a Hypergrowth Company While Running Out of Money 44:27 Calling Amazon Back 46:53 Being a Solo Founder 50:39 Superbowl Ad 01:00:00 Social Currency Corner Thanks to Our Sponsors! Mercury: mercury.com  Rula: rula.com/socialcurrency Bilt:  joinbilt.com/socialcurrency  Shopify: shopify.com/socialcurrency  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Peter Semple (Depop) on Scaling Beyond Gen Z, the CMO to CEO Pipeline, and the eBay Deal 23.06.2026 1ó 10p

  Peter Semple is CEO of Depop,  the fashion resale marketplace that became one of Gen Z's most influential shopping platforms and completely changed how a new generation thinks about secondhand fashion.  Peter joins Sammi to break down how Depop built a community-first brand, why the company made the surprising decision to eliminate seller fees, and what it takes to scale beyond Gen Z without losing cultural relevance. They also discuss why Peter wants Depop to become the "Nike of resale," the future of AI-powered shopping, and what the recently announced $1.2 billion acquisition by eBay means for the next chapter of the business. Plus: why Depop keeps showing up cultural moments (from rap lyrics to SNL), and what happens when superfans become employees. Follow Sammi Cohen on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter Follow Peter and Depop Here’s What Sammi Covers with Peter: 00:00 Peter Semple’s Social Currency 02:14 Partner Message: Mercury for Personal03:36 From Copywriter to CEO05:49 What Google Creative Lab Taught Him About Brands08:04 Leaving Google for a Startup10:13 How Sneakers Led Him to Depop11:58 Why Depop Hires Its Own Users 14:34 Partner Message: Rula 15:49 Partner Message: Mercury for Business17:08 The Mindset Shift From CMO to CEO20:07 How Depop Scales Without Losing Gen Z24:25 Building the “Nike of Resale”26:01 Why Depop Eliminated Seller Fees29:13 The Power of Circular Fashion 30:06 Partner Message: Bilt 31:07 Partner Message: Shopify32:22 Why Brands Should Earn, Not Chase, Cultural Relevance35:10 From SNL to Rap Lyrics: Becoming Part of Culture38:06 What the $1.2 Billion eBay Acquisition Means42:13 Can Sustainability Beat Fast Fashion?45:20 Why Shopping Should Feel Like a Treasure Hunt46:56 How AI Is Changing Fashion Resale50:03 Will AI Change How We Discover Products?52:38 Depop’s Competitive Advantage55:00 The Secret Behind the Name “Depop” Thanks to Our Sponsors! Mercury: mercury.com  Rula: rula.com/socialcurrency Bilt:  joinbilt.com/socialcurrency  Shopify: shopify.com/socialcurrency Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Gary Vaynerchuk (VaynerX) on the Next Digital Gold Rush, AI, and Intellectual Property 16.06.2026 57p

  Twenty years after uploading his first YouTube video, Gary Vaynerchuk is still obsessed with where attention is going next. Today, he joins Sammi to talk about his predictions and why it’s not too late to get started on social media. Gary explains why he believes social media has become “interest media,” how AI and authenticity are not mutually exclusive, and why quantity remains one of the biggest competitive advantages in content. They also discuss the rise of live shopping, why Gary is betting big on IRL experiences, and the long-term vision behind VeeFriends—his modern intellectual property empire centered around optimism, accountability, and character development. Along the way, Gary shares his approach to mental health, whether he wants his kids to take over his business, and the one thing he still hasn’t done yet. Plus, they revisit one of Sammi’s favorite pieces of Gary’s content… and it’s a real tearjerker. Follow Sammi Cohen on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter Follow Gary Vaynerchuk and VeeFriends Here’s What Sammi Covers with Gary: 00:00 Gary Vaynerchuk’s Social Currency 02:14 Partner Message: Mercury for Business 03:37 Uploading His First YouTube Video 20 Years Ago 05:34 Why Gary Only Talks About What He Knows 07:22 Why Social Media Became “Interest Media” 09:35 The Platform Predictions That Made Gary Famous 12:13 Why Content Merit Matters More Than Followers 14:20 Partner Message: Rula 15:36 Partner Message: Bilt 16:36 AI, Authenticity, and the Creator Dilemma 17:57 Why Quantity Is a Competitive Advantage 19:00 The Power of “And” Instead of “Or” 20:25 Why Gary Is Betting Big on IRL Experiences 21:14 The Rise of Analog in a Digital World 22:24 What Gary Will Never Outsource to AI 24:20 Why Great Businesses Ignore Personal Preference 25:12 Will Humans Eventually Marry AI? 26:23 The Upside of AI That People Ignore 27:33 The Video That Best Captures Gary’s Philosophy 28:53 Why Gary Cares So Much About Underdogs 30:10 The Difference Between Positivity and Delusion32:20 Gary’s Approach to Mental Health 33:23 Partner Message: Mercury for Personal 34:37 Partner Message: Shopify 35:57 What Gary Wants for His Kids 37:50 Why VeeFriends Is His Most Important Project 39:34 Building an IP Empire Through Character-Based Storytelling 42:13 Why Live Shopping Is Finally Taking Off 44:10 Gary’s Advice for Sammi’s New Live Show 46:06 Why Creators Need More Content on More Platforms 46:29 Gary’s First Viral Video 47:33 Who Gets the Good News—and Who Gets the Bad News 48:08 Whether Gary Will Ever Take a Real Break 49:28 The 15/85 System That Runs His Career Thanks to Our Sponsors! Mercury: mercury.com  Rula: rula.com/socialcurrency Bilt:  joinbilt.com/socialcurrency  Shopify: shopify.com/socialcurrency Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Matilda Djerf (Djerf Avenue) on Creator-Led Brands, Secrets Behind 300% Growth and Tough Lessons in Entrepreneurship 09.06.2026 1ó 6p

  Matilda Djerf transformed a growing social media audience into Djerf Avenue: a global lifestyle brand and an aesthetic that has genuinely shaped internet culture from fashion to beauty to the now-iconic Matilda Djerf hair.  In this episode, Matilda joins Sammi to share the full story behind Djerf Avenue— from packing orders with friends and family in an empty warehouse to scaling through the pandemic when nobody knew whether consumers would buy blazers during lockdowns. She explains why she never raised venture capital, how she used DMs as market research, and realities of growing a creator-led company at rocketing speed. Sammi and Matilda also talk about creator burnout, the pressure of tying your personal identity to your company, and the difficult public scrutiny she faced after allegations from former employees. Matilda opens up about leadership, accountability, and what it actually feels like to grow up publicly while running a scaling business. Plus, Matilda shares about getting into community building, influencer culture, and how creators today should think about what parts of their lives belong online and what should stay private.  Follow Sammi Cohen on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter Follow Matilda Djerf and Djerf Avenue Here’s What Sammi Covers with Matilda: 00:00 Matilda Djerf’s Social Currency 02:03 Partner Message: Mercury for Personal 03:33 Growing Up in a Small Town and Building a Global Audience 04:44 What’s Changed for Creators Since the 2010s 05:32 Why Passion Still Matters More Than Growth Hacks 06:56 Where Matilda Finds Creative Inspiration 08:08 Protecting Your Image in the Age of Social Media 11:30 AI, Copyright, and the Future of Creator Rights 12:00 When Matilda’s Hair Became a Cultural Phenomenon 13:25 Launching Djerf Avenue From an Empty Warehouse 16:29 Why She Never Raised Outside Capital 18:48 Building a Brand Around Community, Not White Space 19:35 Partner Message: Mercury for Business 21:09 Turning Followers Into Customers 22:06 Trusting Her Gut Over a Business Plan 23:49 Launching a Fashion Brand Into a Pandemic 27:13 Why Authentic Community Can’t Be Faked 29:36 How Djerf Avenue Invests in Its Customers 30:46 The Challenges of Scaling 300% Growth 32:20 The Hidden Cost of Returns 34:04 Why Customer Service Remains Human 35:18 Partner Message: Bilt 36:19 Managing a Personal Brand and a Business Brand 38:04 Navigating Public Scrutiny and Leadership Challenges 39:09 The Leadership Lessons She Learned the Hard Way 41:11 Why She Never Considered Walking Away 42:11 The New Social Contract Between Founders and Employees 44:02 Expanding Djerf Avenue Into Beauty 46:27 Selling Beauty Products Without Retail Stores 47:46 What’s Next for Djerf Avenue 49:00 A Week in the Life of Djerf Avenue’s Chief Creative Officer 51:46 Brick and Mortar Dreams 57:10 On Gathered 58:24 Social Currency Corner Thanks to Our Sponsors! Mercury: mercury.com Bilt:  joinbilt.com/socialcurrency  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Eugene Remm (CATCH) on the Business of Vibe, Restaurant Economics and Critics Who Gatekeep 02.06.2026 51p

  Eugene Remm didn't set out to build a hospitality empire. He started as a bartender, worked in nightlife, and chased success through New York's club scene… until a major failure forced him to rethink everything. Today, Eugene is the co-founder of CATCH Hospitality Group, the company behind some of the most sought-after restaurants in America, including CATCH, The Corner Store, Or’esh, and The Eighty Six. He breaks down the restaurant formula that most operators get wrong, why "vibe" is actually the last thing you should focus on, and how he thinks about building unforgettable guest experiences. He explains the psychology behind New York's line culture, why restaurant critics have lost their gatekeeping power, and how social media has completely reshaped hospitality. They also dive into the business side of restaurants: scaling without losing quality, managing celebrity demand, hiring people who genuinely care, and the lessons Eugene learned from failed nightclub ventures and unsuccessful expansion deals. Plus, Eugene shares what happened after Taylor Swift started visiting The Corner Store, why he believes no celebrity has a bigger impact on consumer behavior, and how AI is poised to transform hospitality without replacing the human touch. Follow Sammi Cohen on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Follow Eugene’s Work: Catch Restaurants, @catch  The Corner Store, @thecornerstore The Eighty Six, @the86.nyc  Or'esh, @or.esh  Here’s What Sammi Covers with Eugene 00:00 Eugene Remm’s Social Currency 02:10 Partner Message: Mercury for Business 03:31 From Bartender to Hospitality Entrepreneur 06:13 How Failure in Nightlife Led to CATCH 08:10 Reinventing a 15-Year-Old Restaurant Brand 10:58 Why Big Restaurants Stopped Working 13:53 The Three Pillars: Food, Service, and Vibe 14:05 Why Guest Experience Is the Hardest Thing to Scale 15:37 Partner Message: Mercury for Personal 16:50 Partner Message: Bilt 17:56 How Eugene Hires People Who Actually Care 20:30 Why Great Teams Beat Great Individuals 21:18 Why Most Restaurants Get Vibe Wrong 22:22 The Art of Curating a Dining Room 23:03 Building a Celebrity-Filled Restaurant Without Chasing Celebrities 25:14 The Million-Dollar Reservation Strategy 26:32 Why Restaurant Critics No Longer Matter 27:27 Michelin Stars vs. Customer Demand 29:14 How Social Media Replaced Traditional Gatekeepers 31:02 Why Eugene Chooses 10 A-Minus Businesses Over One A-Plus 32:45 What’s Next for CATCH Hospitality Group 35:03 Building an LVMH of Restaurant Brands 36:11 The Corner Store’s Viral Rise36:28 The Taylor Swift Effect 38:00 Why Fast Casual Is the Next Frontier 39:54 The Psychology of the “New York Hour” 41:28 Lessons From a Failed Dubai Expansion 43:02 How Tilman Fertitta Changed the Business 44:32 Eugene’s “Constant Gentle Pressure” System 45:28 How AI Will Transform Hospitality 47:53 When You’re Ready to Open Restaurant Number Two 49:31 Why Restaurants Might Be the Hardest Business in the World Thanks to Our Sponsors! Mercury: mercury.com Bilt:  joinbilt.com/socialcurrency  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Rick Caruso (Caruso) on Disney-Inspired Retail, Political Leadership, and Why California Is Losing Entrepreneurs 26.05.2026 1ó 2p

  Rick Caruso has spent decades reshaping Los Angeles through projects like The Grove, Americana at Brand, and Palisades Village. In this conversation with Sammi, Rick talks through his entrepreneurial strategy with real estate and beyond. Rick explains how he built a billion-dollar real estate empire by studying people instead of the industry, why he intentionally ignored traditional mall design rules, and the Walt Disney philosophies that shaped his approach to hospitality. He shares why he believes founders need to be comfortable being over their skis, how criticism actually signals progress, and the surprising rituals he still personally does for guests at his properties. Then the conversation turns to Los Angeles. Rick gives an unfiltered breakdown of the Pacific Palisades fires, explaining exactly how Palisades Village survived while much of the surrounding area burned. He walks through the fire prevention systems his team built years in advance, the operational decisions that protected the property, and the broader lessons for government competency and crisis management. Sammi and Rick also discuss why small businesses are increasingly struggling in California, why entrepreneurs are leaving cities like LA and New York, and the political climate that ultimately led Rick to decide not to run for governor.  Follow Sammi Cohen on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Follow Rick Caruso’s work Here’s What Sammi Covers with Rick: 00:00 Rick Caruso’s Social Currency 02:50 Why “Follow Your Passion” Is Bad Advice 05:16 Why Not Knowing the Rules Helped Him Win 08:05 Why Founders Need to Be “Over Their Skis” 09:23 The “Celebrate vs. Isolate” Framework 10:00 Building The Grove Around the Farmers Market 12:08 Why Criticism Means You’re Doing Something Important 14:00 The Hospitality Details Guests Never Notice 18:12 Walt Disney’s Biggest Lesson for Entrepreneurs 22:12 Why People Propose at the Americana Fountain 25:00 Expensive Mistakes 28:32 Why Retail Must Constantly Reinvent Itself 29:14 How Palisades Village Reinvented Retail Layouts 30:00 Why Rick Writes a Fictional Story for Every Project 31:17 What Saved Palisades Village During the Fires 35:05 Why Rick Thinks LA Leadership Failed 37:13 Why Rick Decided Not to Run for Governor 41:00 Why California Needs Business-Minded Leadership 44:18 Solutions to Homelessness in LA 49:29 Why Small Businesses Are Struggling in California 51:45 Rick’s Personal System for Life and Leadership 54:13 Why Entrepreneurs Are Leaving California 56:02 Innovation vs. Naivety for Founders Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Harley Finkelstein (Shopify) on AI Shopping Agents, Merit-Based Commerce, and the “Give a Sh*t Factor” That Makes Founder-Led Companies Win 19.05.2026 1ó 8p

  Harley Finkelstein believes we’re entering the most important shift in commerce since the invention of online shopping itself. As President of Shopify, Harley has helped build the infrastructure powering millions of businesses across more than 175 countries. Now, he says AI is about to fundamentally change not only how consumers discover and buy products online— but how “machine customers” might do our shopping for us. Harley explains why agentic commerce could replace traditional search, his take on the idea that every brand is becoming a media company (featuring a Favorite Daughter case study), and why this new era may reward product quality more than ad spend. Harley also shares the story of joining Shopify in its earliest days, why founder-led companies consistently outperform, and why he believes modern entrepreneurs can now go from a kitchen-table idea to a multi-billion-dollar company faster than ever before. Plus: the brands he thinks are getting retail right—and the critical “give a sh*t factor” he believes only founders truly have. Follow Sammi Cohen on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Follow Harley’s work and updates at Shopify Here’s What Sammi Covers with Harley: 00:00 Harley Finkelstein’s Social Currency 01:57 Partner Message: Mercury 02:30 Growing Up Around Immigrant Entrepreneurs 05:40 Why Harley Went to Law School 08:00 Meeting Shopify Founder Tobi Lütke 12:00 Why Shopify Felt Like a “Superpower” 15:00 Partner Message: Mercury 16:19 Partner Message: Mosh 18:00 The Moment Shopify Became a Generational Company 21:00 From E-Commerce Platform to Commerce Operating System 22:30 Every 26 Seconds a New Entrepreneur Gets Their First Sale 24:00 Why Some Brands Become Media Companies 25:00 Favorite Daughter and the Founder-Led Brand Flywheel 27:00 Why Most Brands Feel Inauthentic 28:30 What Great Retail Brands Understand About Emotion 30:00 Shopify’s OpenAI and ChatGPT Announcement 31:00 What “Agentic Commerce” Actually Means 32:00 AI Personal Shoppers and Curated Buying 35:00 Why AI Could Help Small Brands Win 37:00 The End of Traditional Search? 39:00 How Brands Maintain Identity Inside AI Platforms 41:00 Why Storytelling Matters More in an AI World 42:00 The Rise of Machine Customers 44:00 Why Harley Is a Techno-Optimist 47:30 Why Founder-Led Companies Win 50:00 The Founder “Give a Shit Factor” 51:00 Harley’s Framework for Finding Your Life’s Work Thanks to Our Sponsors!Mercury: mercury.com Mosh Bars:  moshlife.com/socialcurrency Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Todd Kahn (Coach) on Winning Gen Z, Shrinking to Grow, and the Brand Turnaround That Changed Everything 12.05.2026 58p

  Todd Kahn took over the commercial responsibility for Coach in March of 2020. Two weeks later, he closed all North America stores.  Today, Coach CEO Todd Kahn sits down with Sammi to break down the strategy behind one of fashion’s biggest brand turnarounds, and why Coach had to do the exact opposite of conventional growth advice to pull it off. He explains why trying to be “for everyone” almost destroyed the brand, how flash sales quietly trained customers to wait for discounts, and why the company stopped greeting shoppers with coupons entirely during the pandemic. Todd also shares how Coach rebuilt itself for Gen Z through “expressive luxury,” viral bags like the Tabby and Brooklyn, immersive retail experiences, and unexpected ideas like coffee shops, book charms, and co-creation stations inside stores. Plus: the real reason Gen Z shops in person more than people think, why virality can’t be engineered, and the internal operating system Todd uses to run a nearly $7 billion business. Follow Sammi Cohen on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Follow the Coach branding masterclass Here’s What Sammi Covers with Todd: 00:00 Todd Kahn’s Social Currency 02:30 From Corporate Lawyer to Coach CEO 07:52 Joining Coach During the Financial Crisis 10:00 What Actually Went Wrong at Coach 14:00 Flash Sales, Discounting, and Brand Dilution 15:00 Hiring Stuart Vevers and Resetting Creativity 19:00 Rediscovering Coach’s Brand Codes 20:44 Why Coach Focused on Gen Z 23:00 Closing 250 Stores to Save the Brand 24:00 Why “Stores Are Commercial Activities” 26:00 Cutting 40% of the Assortment 27:10 The “Timeless Gen Z” Strategy 28:40 Taking Over Coach Right Before COVID 29:50 Why Coach Stopped Leading with Discounts 30:20 Building a Billion-Dollar Digital Business 31:00 Why People Bought Handbags During Lockdown 32:00 From Performance Marketing to Brand Building 33:00 Bringing 2.9 Million New Customers Into Coach 34:00 Why Coach Wants to Be Your First Luxury Bag 35:30 The Real Story Behind Bag Charm Mania 38:00 What Actually Creates Virality 39:45 Why Coach Only Does Two Big Campaigns a Year 40:00 What “Expressive Luxury” Really Means 42:00 Why Gen Z Loves Shopping In Person 43:00 Coach Play Stores and Experiential Retail 44:00 The Business Strategy Behind Coach Coffee Shops 47:30 Todd’s Operating System for Leadership 50:22 The Story Behind Coach’s Viral Book Charms 52:00 Why Gen Z Is Returning to Books and Community Thanks to Mercury for sponsoring this episode! mercury.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Rebecca Hessel Cohen (LoveShackFancy) on Building a Multi-Generational Fashion Brand, D2C Versus Retail, and Collaborations That Actually Work 05.05.2026 1ó 9p

  Rebecca Hessel Cohen didn’t set out to build a company, she just wanted better bridesmaid dresses. But that small idea turned into LoveShackFancy, a multi-generational, cult-favorite brand with dozens of stores, hundreds of retail partners, and a fiercely loyal community. Today, Rebecca joins Sammi to break down the unfiltered reality of building a fashion business from scratch. From leaving her dream job at Cosmopolitan, to launching her first collection the same week she had her first child, to schlepping dresses in her car to early customers— this the unfiltered look at what it means to start a business. They also get into Rebecca’s viral social media moments (including the most epic bat mitzvah), building a brand that resonates from “babies to eighties,” how she evaluates collaborations from Stanley to Victoria's Secret, and what actually makes a retail store feel magical instead of transactional.  Follow Sammi Cohen on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Follow Rebecca and LoveShackFancy Here’s What Sammi Covers with Rebecca: 00:00 The Gwyneth Paltrow Moment That Changed Everything 02:03 Partner Message: Mercury for Personal Banking 03:00 Growing Up in Fashion Closets 06:00 Life as a Fashion Editor at Cosmopolitan 10:30 The Bridesmaid Dress That Started It All 14:00 Turning a Side Hustle Into a Business 18:30 Launching a Brand While Having a Baby 20:53 Partner Message: Mercury for Business Banking 22:07 Partner Message: Mosh Bars 23:42 Why LoveShackFancy Wasn’t an Overnight Success 26:00 Building a Team and Scaling the Business 29:00 Opening Retail Stores During COVID 33:00 Dividing Roles With Her Husband 36:00 Building the Beauty Business and Sephora Strategy 38:30 Where Inspiration Actually Comes From 41:00 Designing for “Babies to Eighties” 43:30 How LoveShackFancy Approaches Collaborations 47:00 What Makes a Partnership Actually Work 49:30 Building a Brand Through Community and Retail 52:00 The Power of Experiential Shopping 55:00 Supporting Female Founders Through Trunk Shows 58:00 The Viral Home Tour and Social Media Strategy 01:02:00 Instagram vs. TikTok: How Rebecca Thinks About Both 01:05:00 What She Shares Online (And What She Doesn’t) Thanks to Our Sponsors! Mercury: mercury.com Mosh Bars:  moshlife.com/socialcurrency  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Steven Schwartz (Whop) on Building a Unicorn, Creating Millionaires, and the Future of Work 28.04.2026 56p

  What if the future of work doesn’t look anything like the office jobs we were told to chase? Steven Schwartz started building businesses as a teenager and eventually turned that obsession into Whop, one of the fastest-growing marketplaces for internet businesses. Today, the company is valued at $1.6 billion and helps thousands of people earn income online. In this episode, Steven joins Sammi to break down how he met his co-founder on Facebook at 13, why they almost quit Whop after just three months, and how they scaled it into a unicorn backed by names like Peter Thiel and Kevin Hart. They also unpack the creator economy, why everyone is a creator now, why traditional 9-to-5 career paths are being disrupted, and what “agentic income” could mean in the next era of work. Plus: why Steven thinks the biggest mistake aspiring entrepreneurs make is waiting to feel ready. Follow Sammi Cohen on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Check out Whop Here’s what Sammi covers with Steven: 00:00 How Steven Met His Co-Founder at 13 on Facebook 03:15 Building Sneaker Bots as a Teenager 06:00 20+ Side Hustles Before Whop 10:30 Almost Quitting Whop After 3 Months 14:00 What Whop Actually Is 19:00 50,000+ New Users Per Day 22:00 The $1.6 Billion Valuation Explained 25:00 Why Stablecoins Matter for Global Business 29:45 Whop Has Created Hundreds of Millionaires 32:30 Advice for New Entrepreneurs 36:00 AI and the End of the Creator Economy 39:30 What “Agentic Income” Means 41:30 The Company That Tried to Buy Whop 43:00 Why Steven Wants to Redefine Work 46:00 Whop Finance and the Future of Money 50:00 Why Creators Shouldn’t Rely on One Platform Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Suzy Welch (NYU) on the Joy of Getting Fired, Decoding the 10/10/10 Method, and Why Most People Settle for a B+ Life 21.04.2026 1ó

  Suzy Welch has built a career helping people answer one deceptively simple question: What should I do with my life? She’s a bestselling author, professor at New York University Stern School of Business, former editor at Harvard Business Review, and creator of the “Becoming You” methodology. Today Sammi sits down with Suzy to unpack why getting fired can actually benefit your career, why so many people get trapped in what she calls a “B+ life,” and how fear, expectations, and convenience quietly pull people away from who they really are. She also shares the framework that made her famous: the 10/10/10 method, how to make better decisions by thinking about consequences in 10 minutes, 10 months, and 10 years. Plus: why only a small percentage of people truly know their values, how AI is changing career anxiety, and what to do when the life you built no longer fits you. Follow Sammi Cohen on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Claim 15% off the Values Bridge with the code SOCIALCURRENCY Here’s what Sammi covers with Suzy: 00:00 Suzy Welch’s Social Currency02:15 Starting as a Crime Reporter in Miami06:30 What Covering Crime Taught Her About Human Nature09:00 Falling in Love with Business Journalism13:25 Why Everyone Should Get Fired Once17:30 The Workplace Dynamic of “Toxic Handlers”19:45 Rebuilding After Loss and Choosing Life Again23:00 The Origin of “Becoming You”25:15 Why AI Is Changing Career Anxiety28:50 Why Only 7% of People Know Their Values32:40 Can Your Values Change Over Time?34:10 Why Family Isn’t Everyone’s Top Value38:05 The Trap of a B+ Life40:50 The Four Horsemen of Values Destruction48:30 How the 10/10/10 Framework Works 51:43 Social Currency Corner 55:51 How to Show Social Currency Some Love Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Jay Luchs (Newmark) on Building a Real Estate Empire, Strategy for Brick and Mortar, and Newbie Lease Mistakes 14.04.2026 51p

  If you’ve driven through Los Angeles, you’ve already met today’s guest. Jay Luchs is one of the most influential retail real estate brokers in LA; his “For Lease” signs are plastered across the city’s most valuable streets, from Rodeo Drive to Melrose. But behind those signs is a business built on relationships, taste, and a deep understanding of what actually makes a retail concept work. In this episode, Jay sits down with Sammi to break down how the business really works: how he wins listings in one of the most competitive markets in the country, what founders consistently misunderstand about signing their first lease, and why picking the wrong landlord can quietly kill a business. They also go deep on the future of retail in LA—from why food and coffee are now the backbone of any successful retail strip, to how brands like Erewhon can completely transform a street overnight, to why there’s actually less available space than people think.  Follow Sammi Cohen on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Follow Jay Luchs on Instagram Learn more about Mercury for Personal and Business Here’s what Sammi covers with Jay: 00:00 Jay Luchs’ Social Currency 02:22 Real Estate Origin Story 06:40 Why Real Estate Is a Creative Business 09:27 How the “For Lease” Empire Works 12:05 Winning Listings in a Competitive Market 14:19 What Founders Get Wrong About Leases 15:25 How to Spot a Bad Landlord 17:00 Choosing the Right Retail Location 18:46 Why LA Has Less Retail Space Than You Think 21:15 What Makes a Retail Area Thrive 22:24 How Social Media Changed Real Estate 29:03 Inside a Decade-Long Development Project 32:00 Turning Retail Into a Destination 37:23 Building Relationships That Last 40:01 Jay’s Daily System for Clarity 41:21 Can Retail Rebuild Communities? 45:12 What Makes a Brick-and-Mortar Store Succeed Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Shreya Murthy (Partiful) on Winning Over Gen Z, Beating Copycats and Engineering Fun 07.04.2026 1ó 2p

  Shreya Murthy built one of the rare social apps people want to open—and then immediately close. It’s all going according to plan. Her company, Partiful, has quietly become the go-to way Gen Z and millennials plan parties, birthdays, dinners—and even weddings. But what’s more interesting is how it won: by rejecting everything Big Tech historically has optimized for. In this episode, Shreya sits down with Sammi to break down why she turned down the metaverse narrative, refused to pivot to virtual events during the pandemic, and built a product designed to get people off their phones… not glued to them. They also get into what happened when Apple launched a nearly identical invite app, why Partiful draws a hard line on user privacy, and how tiny features like “boops” and “crushes” are actually the secret to product-market fit. Plus: the real monetization plan, why Gen Z hates “cringe” design, and how one party invite helped spark a viral cultural moment. Follow Sammi Cohen on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Follow Partiful and find your next party Here’s what Sammi covers with Shreya: 00:00 Shreya Murthy’s Social Currency 00:50 The Problem With Social Media 02:22 From Palantir to Consumer Tech 08:22 The Idea That Sparked Partiful 10:04 Turning Parties Into a Product 11:05 Launching During the Pandemic 13:56 Resisting the Metaverse Pivot 15:40 Building for IRL Connection 16:00 Why Gen Z Loves Partiful 18:27 The “Least Cringe” Product Strategy 20:20 Consumer vs Corporate Use Cases 22:05 Why Partiful Protects User Data 24:57 Monetization Without Selling Data 29:27 How Partiful Makes Money Today 31:23 The Philosophy: Get Off Your Phone 32:00 Discovering Events IRL 33:17 Brick and Mortar? 34:38 Features Like Boops and Crushes 38:00 Apple’s Copycat Moment 41:00 Growth Despite Competition 42:00 The Viral Timothée Chalamet Event 47:00 What Winning Looks Like 50:16 Social Currency Corner and Touching Grass Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Seth Goldman (Just Ice Tea) on Selling Honest Tea to Coca-Cola, Starting Again, and the Future of Food 03.04.2026 45p

  Seth Goldman built one of the most iconic beverage brands of the last two decades… only to watch it get discontinued by Coca-Cola. In this episode, Seth tells Sammi the full story: bootstrapping Honest Tea in the late ’90s when the category didn’t exist, educating consumers one sample at a time, and eventually partnering with Coca-Cola to scale what he believed could become a billion-dollar brand. Then came the gut punch: years after the acquisition, Coca-Cola made the decision to shut Honest Tea down. Instead of walking away, Seth did something few founders would do— he started over. He shares how he launched Just Ice Tea, rebuilt his supply chain using decades-old relationships, and scaled faster the second time around. Sammi and Seth also get into what it really takes to build a sustainable CPG brand, why most beverage startups fail, and the one mistake founders make before they even launch: focusing on branding before validating taste. Plus, Seth shares his long-term perspective from his work with Beyond Meat—and why he still believes the biggest consumer shifts take decades, not years. Follow Sammi Cohen on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Check out Just Ice Tea Here’s what Sammi covers with Seth:00:00 Seth Goldman’s Social Currency 00:50 Building Honest Tea Before The Market Existed 03:03 Creating Demand Through Sampling 05:00 Bootstrapping And Staying Scrappy 06:06 The Coca-Cola Investment Story 09:26 Inside The Coca-Cola Acquisition 10:48 Culture Clash With A Corporate Giant 11:00 The Day Honest Tea Was Discontinued 12:10 Why Seth Decided To Start Again 15:26 Why Beverage Is The Hardest Category 19:29 Launching Just Ice Tea Differently 20:53 The Mission Behind “Just Ice Tea” 23:17 What Makes The Product Different 25:00 From Eat The Change To Just Ice Tea 26:46 Betting Early On Beyond Meat 28:05 The Rise, Fall, And Rebuild Of Alt Meat 35:05 What It Takes To Build A CPG Brand 36:45 The Power Of Relationships And Karma 37:00 Would Seth Sell Again? 39:11 Seth’s Daily System For Clarity 40:03 The Future Of Food 41:18 The #1 Thing Founders Must Validate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Nayeema Raza (Smart Girl Dumb Questions) on the Manosphere, How to Launch a Podcast (and Whether You Should) 31.03.2026 1ó 15p

   Everyone has a podcast. So, where is the whitespace and what does it really take to break through?  Sammi sits down with Nayeema Raza, host of Smart Girl Dumb Questions and former The New York Times journalist, for a conversation on the modern media landscape, the podcast boom, and what they tell people who are thinking about starting a podcast. Sammi and Nayeema break down what it really takes to launch a podcast—and share exactly how much they’re making from theirs. Sammi and Nayeema also get into the bigger shift happening across media: why podcasting is becoming the new “TV” and why creators today need to think more like founders than talent. Plus, they unpack the rise of controversial content ecosystems like the “manosphere,” what it teaches about audience-building (even if you hate it), and where the line between journalism and creators is headed. Follow Sammi Cohen on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter Follow Nayeema and listen to Smart Girl Dumb Questions Here’s What Sammi Covers with Nayeema: 00:00 Have We “Made It” In Podcasting? 03:45 Social Vs. Podcast Growth 06:52 Why Everyone Has A Podcast 07:09 The Intimacy And Power Of Podcasting 08:00 The Rise Of The Manosphere 12:41 What Controversial Creators Get Right 17:12 “Is It A Scam?” Rapid-Fire 21:20 The Real Work Behind Podcasting 26:09 Is Podcasting Saturated? 28:38 Why Most Podcasts Fail 31:53 Is Podcasting Overhyped? 33:00 How Much Money Podcasts Actually Make 35:00 Building A Studio And Betting On Yourself 36:08 The Hidden ROI Of Podcasting 41:00 Journalism Vs. Creators 47:00 The Scariest Part Of Starting A Podcast 54:00 How To Break Through Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Listener Grab Bag: Career Risks, Leaving Corporate, and Building in Public 27.03.2026 16p

  This episode is a little different. Instead of a deep dive, Sammi turns the mic around and answers your questions—from career risks and leaving corporate to building a business, growing an audience, and figuring out what to keep private in a “build in public” world. She shares the unconventional bet that changed her career (starting on TikTok when people thought it was a “teen dancing app”), why she believes the best way to escape the corporate rat race is to test ideas on the side, and the fears that held her back longer than she wishes. Sammi also breaks down how to actually grow on social media (without burning out), what people don’t tell you about running a podcast, and the surprising lesson she learned after interviewing the founder of Juicero—and why every business story has more than one side. Follow Sammi Cohen on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Here’s what Sammi covers today: 00:00 A Different Kind of Episode 01:29 How to Escape Corporate 04:39 The Fear that Kept Sammi in Corporate Too Long 05:29 How to Grow on Instagram 07:23 What Nobody Tells You About Podcasting 09:23 A Found Story That Changed Sammi’s Perspective 10:49 What to Keep Private When Building In Public 12:00 The Question Sammi Can’t Answer Yet 12:36 Sammi’s Plan B 13:11 Is USC Worth It? 14:07 Dream Podcast Guests Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices