Social Currency with Sammi Cohen
Alle afleveringen
130 afleveringen, van nieuw naar oud
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Inside Rippling vs. Deel’s Billion-Dollar Espionage War
15 augustus 2025 · 14 min
What happens when a unicorn startup hires a spy to infiltrate its biggest rival? Welcome to the $28 billion battle between Rippling and Deel—where encrypted messages, crypto payments, burner phones, and a secret escape to Dubai are all part of the plot. Lees meer
Today, Sammi unpacks the real-life espionage scandal playing out in Silicon Valley. At the center: two HR tech giants locked in a legal death match. One allegedly planted a spy inside the other. And not just any spy—a payroll exec turned corporate James Bond, allegedly paid thousands a month to leak sensitive data from Slack, Salesforce, and more. This story has everything: honeypots, family conspiracies, a phone destroyed with an axe, and RICO charges straight out of a mob movie. And it’s all unfolding right now. Whether you’re a founder, a tech worker, or just here for the tea—this episode is a front-row seat to the dark side of startup competition.
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Here’s what Sammi covers today:
00:00 The Spy Thriller Silicon Valley Didn’t See Coming
00:48 Meet the Rivals: Rippling vs. Deel
02:16 The “Snake Oil” Feud Gets Personal
04:13 Enter the Spy: Keith O’Brien’s Double Life
06:20 Crypto, Code Names, and the Watchman
08:31 How the Spy Got Caught (and Things Hit the Fan)
11:06 The Honeypot Trap and a Shocking Confession
13:45 Destroyed Phones and Dubai Getaways
15:52 The Lawsuit: RICO, Racketeering, and Corporate Crime
18:33 Deal Fires Back and the Legal War Escalates
20:10 Why the Market Doesn’t Seem to Care
22:05 What This Means for Startup Culture
All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities, options and bonds in a self-directed account are offered by Public Investing, Inc., member FINRA & SIPC. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligi…
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James Reinhart (ThredUp) on Educating Your Customer, Designing a Stellar Customer Experience, and the Future of Fashion Resale
12 augustus 2025 · 1 uur
James Reinhart didn’t set out to change the way we shop—he just wanted to clean out his closet. But that simple idea turned into ThredUp, the giant and beloved resale marketplace. In today’s episode, Sammi sits down with James to unpack how he went from teaching in classrooms to disrupting closets. Lees meer
They talk about the bold bet that helped ThredUp outsmart competitors, why the “Clean Out Kit” became their secret weapon, and what most people get wrong about the secondhand economy. James also shares why partnerships with legacy retailers like Walmart and Macy’s matter, how AI is reshaping resale logistics, and his take on live shopping.
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Here’s what Sammi covers today with James:
00:00 James Reinhart’s Social Currency
01:51 From Education to Entrepreneurship
04:07 The Genesis of ThredUp
09:00 Building the Founding Team
15:20 The Managed Marketplace Model
18:37 The “Clean Out Kit” Innovation
25:43 Challenges in Secondhand Retail
28:56 Resale Market Growth Predictions
29:40 Trends in Secondhand Selling
30:23 Consumer Behavior in Secondhand Shopping
32:19 Customer Loyalty and Retention Strategies
34:06 AI Innovations in Secondhand Retail
39:46 Impact of De Minimis Exemption on Retail
46:34 Future of Retail and Brand Building
51:19 POV on Live Shopping
54:05 Surprising Consumer Behaviors
55:34 How to Show Social Currency Some Love
All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities, options and bonds in a self-directed account are offered by Public Investing, Inc., member FINRA & SIPC. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Sol…
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$33 Toilet Paper and $48 Olive Oil? Welcome to the Age of Every-Day Luxury
8 augustus 2025 · 10 min
Would you spend $33 on toilet paper just because it looks good on your bathroom shelf? You’re not alone—and there’s a reason why. Today Sammi unpacks the rise of what she calls aesthetic utility—a consumer movement where everyday essentials are elevated into lifestyle flexes. Gone are the days of basic olive oil and generic hand soap; now, products like Flamingo Estate’s $48 EVOO or Skinny Confidential’s premium TP are selling status, not just function. Lees meer
Sammi traces how this shift evolved from the first wave of DTC disruption into something deeper: a full-blown cultural phenomenon driven by micro luxury, social media aesthetics, and generational disillusionment with traditional success. You’ll learn why this trend is booming, which brands are getting it right, and how “small luxuries” are reshaping the future of retail—one beautifully packaged necessity at a time.
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Here’s what Sammi covers today:
00:00 The Rise of Aesthetic Utility
00:22 The $33 Toilet Paper That Says Everything
01:20 DTC 1.0 vs 2.0: From Cheap to Chic
02:53 Micro Luxury: The New Status Symbol
04:49 Brands That Turn Basics Into Flexes
07:17 Sammi’s Prediction: How Ordinary Becomes Extraordinary
08:06 How to Show Social Currency Some Love
All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities, options and bonds in a self-directed account are offered by Public Investing, Inc., member FINRA & SIPC. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1890144), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of ri…
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Ariel Kaye (Parachute) on Getting D2C Right, Building Customer Trust and Selling Out of Product Without Becoming a Sellout
5 augustus 2025 · 46 min
Today, Sammi is joined by Ariel Kaye, the founder of Parachute—the cult-favorite home essentials brand that helped define the direct-to-consumer movement. Ariel shares the real story behind Parachute’s early days: from bootstrapping her first launch to navigating funding rounds, managing growing pains, and expanding from digital to retail. She opens up about the emotional toll of solo entrepreneurship, the importance of mentorship, and how she kept her business grounded in customer experience—even during the chaos of COVID. Lees meer
Plus, Ariel reveals how she thinks about growth today, the pressures of staying independent, and why having options—not obligations—is the real founder flex.
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Here’s what Sammi covers today with Ariel:
00:00 Ariel Kaye’s Social Currency
02:49 Early Customer Research and Product Iterations
07:53 Launch Mode: The First Products, First Wins
11:20 Fundraising Without Losing Focus
15:32 What Early Growth Looked Like
17:39 Why Parachute Went IRL With Brick-and-Mortar
21:44 COVID Curveballs
24:19 Building a Full Lifestyle Brand
27:35 Making Marketing Personal
31:32 How Ariel Earns Customer Trust
39:47 The Emotional Side of Building Solo
42:02 How to Show Social Currency Some Love
All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities, options and bonds in a self-directed account are offered by Public Investing, Inc., member FINRA & SIPC. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1890144), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high d…
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The Rise and Fall of Juicero: Silicon Valley's $120 Million Juicing Catastrophe
1 augustus 2025 · 13 min
Today, Sammi dives into the dramatic rise and fall of Juicero, a startup that raised $120 million to solve a problem that didn't exist with an over-engineered solution. Founded by Doug Evans, who aspired to revolutionize the juice industry, Juicero promised a convenient, high-tech juicing machine. Despite backing from major investors like Google Ventures and celebrity endorsements, the company's $400 juicer was exposed as redundant by a viral Bloomberg video. The video revealed that the machine’s expensive features were unnecessary. This debacle led to Juicero’s downfall, highlighting critical lessons about startup culture, over-engineering, and the importance of validating a problem before developing a solution. Lees meer
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Here’s what Sammi covers today:
00:00 Introduction to Juicero’s Rise and Fall
00:51 Doug Evans: The Visionary Behind Juicero
01:58 The Juicero Press: A Revolutionary Idea
02:40 Silicon Valley's Enthusiastic Response
03:48 The Launch and Initial Success
05:13 The Bloomberg Revelation
07:11 The Aftermath and Lessons Learned
10:55 How to Show Social Currency Some Love
All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities, options and bonds in a self-directed account are offered by Public Investing, Inc., member FINRA & SIPC. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1890144), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or S…
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Tyler Denk (Beehiiv) on How to Grow a Profitable Newsletter, Lessons from Morning Brew and AI Bots For Creators
29 juli 2025 · 1 uur 15 min
What’s the secret behind today’s fastest-growing newsletters—and how can creators build smarter, not harder? Tyler Denk is here to answer exactly that. Lees meer
Tyler was one of the first hires at Morning Brew, and now is CEO of Beehiiv, the platform that’s powering some of your favorite newsletters and fueling a new wave of digital media empires. Tyler shares hard truths of being a founder, why he thinks being single is a startup superpower, and how he’s positioning Beehiiv to dominate in a creator economy flooded with tools. Plus, Tyler and Sammi dive into the role AI will (and won’t) play in the future of content.
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Here’s what Sammi covers today with Tyler:
00:00 Tyler Denk’s Social Currency
03:23 Inside Morning Brew Early Days
06:46 Growth Hacking at Morning Brew
09:44 Leaving Morning Brew and Starting Beehiiv
16:57 Raising Seed Funding for Beehiiv
20:54 Naming Beehiiv
33:17 How to Grow a Newsletter
36:50 The Anti-VC Founder Mentality
38:36 Competing with Substack
43:54 AI in Newsletters
50:37 Contrast Therapy
55:05 Building a Company in Public
01:00:11 The Competitive Advantage of Being Single
01:02:38 Routine and Productivity Hacks
01:04:47 Monetization Funds for Creators
01:07:09 Exciting New Tools at Beehiiv
01:10:09 How to Show Social Currency Some Love
All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities, options and bonds in a self-directed account are offered by Public Investing, Inc., member FINRA & SIPC. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1890144), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business …
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Why Some Celebrity Brands Flop While Others Break the Internet
25 juli 2025 · 14 min
From skincare to alcohol, it feels like every celebrity has a brand and your feed is probably full of them. But why do some explode while others quietly crash and burn? Today, Sammi breaks down what really separates the hits from the hype. Lees meer
Is it all about star power—or does authenticity actually matter? Sammi dives into the blueprint behind successful celebrity brands like Hailey Bieber’s Rhode and Kim Kardashian’s Skims, and why others, like Blake Lively’s new beauty line and Katy Perry’s non-alcoholic beverage line, might be missing the mark. This isn’t just about celebs—it’s about how trust, timing, and problem-solving products win in a saturated market.
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Here’s what Sammi covers today:
00:00 The Celebrity Brand Boom
00:38 Fame vs. Business Savvy
01:13 The Risks of Building on a Personal Brand
01:45 What Happened to Ivy Park?
04:44 Skims: A Case Study in Smart Branding
06:20 Rhode and the Rise of Skinfluencers
07:30 Beauty Industry Hits and Misses
10:07 What Actually Makes a Brand “Authentic”?
12:04 Takeaways and Predictions
12:25 How to Show Social Currency Some Love
All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities, options and bonds in a self-directed account are offered by Public Investing, Inc., member FINRA & SIPC. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1890144), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the …
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Phoebe Gates & Sophia Kianni (Phia) on Disrupting Fashion, Rethinking Retail, and Building a Business That’s Good for the Planet
22 juli 2025 · 55 min
The fashion industry is facing a reckoning—from how clothes are made to how they’re resold. And Phia, a new tech-driven platform, is betting that the future of shopping is secondhand, smarter, and more sustainable. Lees meer
In this episode, Sammi sits down with Phia co-founders Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni to talk about how they went from brainstorming ideas in their Stanford dorm room to building a company that’s rethinking retail. They share how Phia uses tech to track price drops and spotlight resale options, why they’re betting on browser extensions and Gen Z, and how their backgrounds have helped them build a mission-driven brand from the ground up.
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Listen to The Burnouts here
Here’s what Sammi covers with Phoebe & Sophia:
00:00 Phoebe & Sophia’s Social Currency
01:51 The Phia Origin Story
07:18 Dropping Out of Stanford and Betting on Themselves
09:38 Building a Team and Advice from Bill Gates
14:48 How the Phia App Makes Secondhand Shopping Easy
25:23 Why Secondhand Isn’t Second-Rate
28:26 Gen Z’s Take on Sustainability
29:20 How Phia Reaches Shoppers Where They Already Are
30:11 The Resale Value Factor
31:07 Who They're Building Phia For
34:12 Lessons from Investors and Advisors
35:42 How Their Podcast The Burnouts on Alex Cooper’s Unwell Network Ties into Their Brand
37:32 Radical Transparency and Listening to Your Customer
44:41 How They Manage Their Time
47:18 What’s Next for the Future of Shopping
48:54 Whose Closet They’d Raid Tomorrow
50:02 How to Show Social Currency Some Love
All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities, options and bonds in a self-directed account are offered by Public Investing, Inc., member FINRA & SIPC. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks …
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Buy Now, Pay Later: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
18 juli 2025 · 21 min
Buy now, pay later is everywhere. Maybe you've seen it when you were buying a Sephora haul, or deciding that you deserve to splurge on your DoorDash delivery, but what’s the truth behind the trend? Today, Sammi answers the question: is BNPL just a shiny new version of the old school layaway, gamified for the TikTok generation? Or is it more dangerous? Lees meer
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Here’s what Sammi covers today:
00:00 The Allure of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL)
01:00 How BNPL Works
01:42 The Popularity… and Risks
06:40 Economic and Social Implications of BNPL
09:11 The Financial Realities of BNPL
12:42 BNPL and Your Credit Score
15:55 Pros, Cons and the Future of Payments
All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities, options and bonds in a self-directed account are offered by Public Investing, Inc., member FINRA & SIPC. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1890144), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC.
*APY as of 6/30/25, offered by Public Investing, member FINRA/SIPC. Rate subject to change.
See terms of IRA Match Program here: public.com/disclosures/ira-match.
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Ankur Jain (Bilt) on Turning Rent Into Rewards, Raising $250M, and Reinventing the Path to Homeownership
15 juli 2025 · 54 min
What if paying rent could actually help you own a home someday? That’s exactly the idea Ankur Jain ran with when he launched Bilt Rewards, the first loyalty program that lets renters earn points on rent—and it’s now backed by over 2 million units nationwide, plus Mastercard, Wells Fargo and more. Lees meer
Sammi sits down with Ankur to unpack how he built one of the most disruptive fintech startups in the housing space, why homeownership is getting harder for younger generations, and how Built is changing that. From navigating brutal regulatory red tape to raising $250 million in funding, Ankur shares what it really takes to scale a company that aims to fix real-world problems.
He also opens up about his time at Tinder, his immigrant roots, the flaws of traditional venture capital, and his unbelievable wedding at the Great Pyramids of Giza.
Here’s what Sammi covers with Ankur:
00:00 Ankur Jain’s Social Currency
02:04 Ankur's Time at Tinder
03:55 How Private Companies Can Solve Public Problems
14:08 COVID-19’s Unexpected Impact on Bilt
18:12 Ankur’s 18 Months in DC Tackling Regulatory Hurdles
22:42 Building a Complex Ecosystem
26:37 The Bilt Model and Connecting Renters with Merchants
31:36 Ankur’s Take on Fundraising
38:14 Surprising Gen Z and Millennial Money Habits
41:55 The Benefits of Working with Friends
44:27 The Future of Living
46:31 Social Currency Corner
47:58 The Wedding of the Century
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Check out Bilt here
Peruse Ankur's Wedding Photos here
All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities, options and bonds in a self-directed account are offered by Public Investing, Inc., member FINRA & SIPC. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Inves…
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Let Them: How Mel Robbins Became the Oprah of TikTok Motivation
11 juli 2025 · 17 min
Mel Robbins didn’t invent self-help—but she might’ve made it viral. From courtroom stress to content queen, Mel turned panic attacks into a personal brand empire, built on bite-sized truths like the Five Second Rule and Let Them. Her strategy? Simplicity that scales, relentless experimentation, and showing up as exactly herself. Lees meer
In today’s episode, Sammi breaks down how Mel went from anonymous anxiety to global influence—and what her journey teaches us about brand-building in the era of oversharing. Whether you want to grow your platform or just get your butt out of bed, Mel’s story is full of real, replicable takeaways.
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Here’s what Sammi covers today:
00:00 The Power of Bite-Sized Wisdom
00:30 Who Is Mel Robbins (and Why Is She Everywhere)?
05:10 The Five Second Rule: TikTok Therapy in Disguise
07:24 Let Them: Simplicity as a Business Strategy
10:07 The Mel Media Machine: How She Experiments Her Way to the Top
11:54 Lessons in Authenticity, Attention, and Algorithms
13:27 What You Can Steal From Mel’s Playbook
All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities, options and bonds in a self-directed account are offered by Public Investing, Inc., member FINRA & SIPC. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1890144), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC.
*APY as of 6/30/25, offered by Public Investing,…
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Lauren Makler (Cofertility) on Make Egg Freezing Accessible, Consumerizing Women’s Health, and Building a Mission-Driven Business
8 juli 2025 · 48 min
What if freezing your eggs didn’t have to feel out of reach, financially or emotionally? Lauren Makler, co-founder and CEO of Cofertility, is reimagining how we think about egg donation and preservation. Lees meer
Lauren’s company helps women freeze their eggs for free— in exchange for donating half— breaking down financial barriers while fostering a more transparent, human-first approach to fertility. In this conversation, Lauren tells Sammi about the wake-up call that sparked her mission, the challenges of innovating in healthcare, and how she balances operational complexity with a deeply personal, purpose-driven vision.
Here’s what Sammi covers with Lauren:
00:00 Lauren Makler’s Social Currency
01:45 From Uber Health to Women’s Health: Lauren’s Career Journey
04:56 The Personal Story Behind Cofertility
09:36 Rethinking the Business of Fertility
16:26 How Co-Fertility’s Model Works
19:57 Making Egg Donation More Transparent
22:01 Fundraising in FemTech
23:00 Testing the Concept and Winning Over Investors
27:01 Navigating Operational Challenges
29:22 Building Trust Through Partnerships and Brand
32:50 Consumerizing Healthcare Without Losing the Human Touch
38:49 Advice for Founders Pivoting into Women’s Health
42:11 How to Support the Show
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The Creator Economy Decoded: How to Actually Make Money Online
4 juli 2025 · 23 min
Nearly 60% of Gen Z wants to be a creator—but how do you actually turn posting into profit? In this episode, Sammi pulls back the curtain on the creator economy and shares the real business model behind full-time content creation. From brand partnerships to your own storefront, affiliate links to equity deals, Sammi breaks down all the ways creators monetize (and the pitfalls to watch out for). Plus, she shares her own behind-the-scenes journey: how she priced her first brand deal, the mistakes she learned the hard way, and her big vision for Social Currency as a platform and a business. Lees meer
Whether you’re dreaming of becoming a creator yourself, already building your side hustle, or just curious about how the influencer sausage gets made—this episode will give you a roadmap to stand out, stay authentic, and actually make money online.
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Here’s what Sammi covers today:
00:00 Why the creator economy is just getting started
02:15 The myth of saturation—and how to stand out
03:44 The brand partnership playbook (and how to price yourself)
11:09 Owning your storefront: products, courses, and merch
15:07 Platform payouts, affiliate links, and even equity deals
16:33 The realities of creator cash flow and mental load
20:55 How to show Social Currency some love
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Augustus Doricko (Rainmaker) on Reprogramming the Weather, the Hard Tech Renaissance, and His Bloody Company Motto
1 juli 2025 · 52 min
How would the health of the planet be impacted if we could control the weather? Augustus Doricko, founder and CEO of Rainmaker, is on a mission to find out. Lees meer
Augustus’ company makes it rain— literally. Through a process called cloud seeding, Rainmaker creates rain for farms, watersheds and ecosystems. In this conversation, Augustus tells Sammi about the brain-bending challenges of engineering cutting-edge technology, the impact of being a Peter Thiel fellow, and why his company motto is “we love the taste of blood in our mouth.”
Here’s what Sammi covers with Augustus:
00:00 Augustus Doricko’s Social Currency
01:45 The Mission of Rainmaker
02:38 The Tech Behind Cloud Seeding (Making It Rain)
03:34 The Origin Story of Weather Modification
04:46 The Importance of Attribution
05:36 How To Create a Brand-New Market
08:02 How Rainmaker Makes It Rain
09:42 Augustus’ Path to Rainmaker
11:00 How Rainmaker Can Address Water Scarcity
21:23 The Community of El Segundo
25:25 Making Engineering Cool
29:08 Fundraising for Hard Tech
31:14 The Peter Thiel Fellowship Experience
34:06 Advice for Aspiring Founders
35:55 Social Currency Corner
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How Trader Joe’s Broke Every Rule in Retail—Then Outsold Everyone
27 juni 2025 · 23 min
Trader Joe’s has no loyalty programs. No flashy ads. Stores that look like they time-traveled in from the '70s. And yet… Trader Joe’s generates more sales per square foot than almost any other grocery store in America. Why? Lees meer
Today, Sammi unpacks the genius of Trader Joe’s—how a company that breaks every retail rule has built one of the most beloved (and profitable) grocery brands in the country. From decision paralysis and private-label domination to its anti-corporate vibe, cult-like fanbase, and German ownership, Trader Joe’s is proof that sometimes the most radical business model is the simplest one done exceptionally well.
Plus: Sammi explains the psychology behind limited-time products, how mystery breeds loyalty, and why treating your employees right isn’t just good karma—it’s good business.
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Here’s what Sammi covers today:
00:00 The Retail Rule-Breaker Nobody Saw Coming
01:35 How Trader Joe’s Was Built for the Over-Educated and Underpaid
04:02 From Flashlights to Fearless Flyers: The Early Days
06:18 Why Fewer Choices = More Sales
09:15 The Power of Private Label and the Two-Buck Chuck Strategy
12:50 The Real Reason You Love Their Packaging
14:07 How Trader Joe’s Built a Culture—Not Just a Store
16:34 The Anti-Influencer Marketing Model That Actually Works
19:15 Cult Products, Secrecy, and Brand Mythology
23:02 The German Empire Behind America’s Favorite Grocer
25:44 What You Can Learn From Trader Joe’s Playbook
27:10 How to Support the Show + Stay in the Loop
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Cassandra Grey (Violet Grey) on Buying Her Company Back, Finding Your Look, and the Vogue Effect
24 juni 2025 · 52 min
What does it take to build a luxury beauty brand that’s as cool as it is strategic? Cassandra Grey has the answer. She’s the force behind Violet Grey—the ultra-curated beauty platform that has become a tastemaker in Hollywood and beyond. Lees meer
Cassandra’s playbook is not the usual one: she launched her brand, grew a cult following for nearly a decade, sold the company in 2022, and then bought it back in 2024. Today, she shares what she learned from every milestone. Cassandra explains what selling her brand taught her about business, insights from her early meetings with Anna Wintour and Gwyneth Paltrow, and how to find your aesthetic as a brand.
Here’s what Sammi covers with Cassandra:
00:00 Meet Cassandra Grey
01:30 Cassandra’s Introduction to Glamour and an Unusual Childhood
04:06 The Violet Grey Origin Story
05:20 Crafting a Business Plan Without an MBA
12:29 The Violet Code
17:31 THE Gwyneth Paltrow Phone Call
19:40 Acquisition by Farfetch
24:04 Why Delusion is Good in Business
25:56 Buying Back Violet Gray
28:02 Incubating Brands with Violet Labs
30:29 The Push into Retail
37:26 Hiring for Your Weaknesses
40:31 Actionable Tips for Finding Your Brand’s Look
44:34 How to Show Social Currency Some Love
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The Rise and Fall of Away Luggage
20 juni 2025 · 18 min
Away wasn’t just luggage—it was millennial wanderlust personified. Backed by $150 million in funding and powered by influencer buzz, Away rocketed to unicorn status in four years. But behind the minimalist branding and Instagrammable carry-ons was a workplace culture scandal, a global travel shutdown, and the hard truth that they were never a tech company… they were just selling suitcases. Lees meer
Today, Sammi unpacks the stunning rise and near-collapse of Away: the Slack surveillance, the CEO whiplash, the overfunding problem, and the brutal reality check of pandemic-era travel. Plus, what happens when your brand is built on vibes… and the vibes shift?
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Here’s what Sammi covers today:
00:00 Away: A Millennial Success Story
01:04 The Broken Luggage Origin Story to Unicorn Status
03:33 The Marketing Magic of Creating a Must-Have Brand
04:56 Rocket Ship Growth and Market Competition
06:08 Toxic Culture and the Beginning of the End
07:54 … and Then There’s COVID
09:06 Post-Pandemic Strategies
12:43 Lessons From The Rise and Fall of Away
13:50 How to Show Social Currency Some Love
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Grant LaFontaine (Whatnot) on Building a Unicorn, Scaling with a Cofounder, and the Future of Shopping
17 juni 2025 · 57 min
Grant LaFontaine says the future of shopping is here— and it’s live. Literally. Lees meer
Grant is the cofounder and CEO of Whatnot—a $5 billion live shopping brand that’s shaking up the traditional retail playbook and betting big on the future of social commerce.
Sammi sits down with Grant to unpack what it takes to build a unicorn; from the lesson Y Combinator taught him about working with a cofounder, to the unique way he thinks about hiring, and why user feedback is his North Star. He shares what he’s learned building in tech, what AI can and can’t do, and why a little paranoia is good for founders.
Follow Sammi on Instagram here
Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter here
Learn more about Whatnot here
00:00 Grant LaFontaine’s Social Currency
01:40 Understanding Whatnot and the Live Shopping Opportunity
02:48 Who Is the Whatnot Customer
04:38 Social Interactions as a Secret Weapon
11:33 The Value of Y Combinator
13:42 Finding Product-Market Fit with Funko Pop
17:29 Scaling Whatnot and Entering New Markets
19:13 The Importance of Hiring and Company Culture
26:13 Fixing Breaks and Providing User Value
26:41 Why Paranoia is an Asset in Business
29:25 Using Mistakes as Data Points
31:32 User Feedback and Product Evolution
33:39 Co-Founder Dynamics and Decision Making
37:06 Social Currency Corner
48:59 How to Show Social Currency Some Love
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The Business of Labubu and the Power of Manufactured Obsession
13 juni 2025 · 11 min
People are lining up at 4 AM, crashing websites, and dropping thousands on a fuzzy vinyl creature with nine teeth and a cult following. Meet Labubu: part toy, part fashion statement, part emotional coping mechanism. Born from a Nordic mythology-inspired art project and catapulted to fame by Pop Mart, Labubu has become a collector’s dream and a status symbol—thanks to limited drops, blind box buying, and celebrity fans like BLACKPINK’s Lisa. Lees meer
Today, Sammi unpacks how scarcity, nostalgia, and the chaos of modern life created the perfect storm for Labubu’s rise—and what that says about the future of fandom, consumption, and identity.
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Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter here
Here’s what Sammi covers today:
00:00 Labubu’s Bizarre Social Currency
01:08 Where Labubu Came From
02:55 Scarcity as a Business Plan
04:10 The Lisa of It All
05:27 What Labubu Tells Us About the State of the World (Really)
06:31 The Future of Fandom
07:22 How to Show Social Currency Some Love
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Loren Castle (Sweet Loren’s) on Turning a Diagnosis Into a Mission, Scaling a Food Brand and Supply Chain Lessons
10 juni 2025 · 49 min
Meet Loren Castle, the powerhouse behind Sweet Loren’s—the #1 natural cookie dough brand in the U.S. Today, Sammi chats with Lauren about how a shocking medical diagnosis pushed her to turn her kitchen experiments into a multimillion-dollar business. Lees meer
They get into the wild ride of breaking into the food world—from the first big break with Whole Foods to juggling supply chain chaos and sticking to Loren’s mission of allergen-free, feel-good ingredients.
Lauren also shares how she built Sweet Loren’s without taking a dime of venture capital, the secret to good packaging, and what’s next for the brand.
If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or just a cookie lover with big dreams, you’ll want to tune in.
Follow Sammi on Instagram here
Follow Sweet Lorens here
Here’s what Sammi covers today with Loren:
00:00 Loren Castle’s Social Currency
01:37 How a Health Crisis Sparked a Cookie Empire
03:22 The Taste Tests Process and the State of Clean Ingredients
05:58 The Whole Foods Deal That Changed Everything
10:56 Lessons in Scaling and Finding Processing Partners
17:54 How to Find White Space
22:47 Profits Without VCs—How She Did It
26:58 COVID, Cookies, and Supply Chain Curveballs
29:27 Branding That Sticks (and Sells)
32:00 Trendy Collabs and What’s Coming Next
37:15 Social Currency Corner: Tips for Food Entrepreneurs
43:25 How to Show Social Currency Some Love
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Why Saks Is In Trouble — and How PE Is To Blame
6 juni 2025 · 17 min
Today Sammi digs into the retail scandal that ties together private equity, power plays, broken promises, and a $2.65 billion luxury merger that's now unraveling in public. Also known as: the story of Saks. Lees meer
Sammi follows the money trail to the center of Saks’ downfall: the mastermind behind the merger that would lead to the financial and reputational mess the brand is in now. This isn't a story about just one department store. It's a case study in how private equity can gut a brand, how debt can disguise dysfunction, and how small businesses are often the ones that are left holding the bag.
Today Sammi Covers:
00:00 How Saks Got Here
00:33 Richard Baker: the Mastermind
01:30 The Saks and Neiman Marcus Merger
02:00 Richard Baker's Wild Real Estate Strategy
04:31 Saks' Financial Decline
08:01 Vendor Fallout
10:13 What’s Next For Saks
12:50 How to Show Social Currency Some Love
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John Hu (Stan) on the Path to $1 Billion, the Creator Economy and Building in Public
3 juni 2025 · 58 min
Think it's too late to become a creator if you don't have a social media following? Think again. According to John Hu, cofounder of Stan—a platform that helps creators turn their platform into income—the creator economy is just getting started. Lees meer
Today, John shares how he’s building Stan with unicorn status in mind, what MrBeast’s business empire can teach us about the business of content, and why he is “guarded” when it comes to fundraising.
This is a deep dive into the business of influence—and what it takes to turn followers into a foundation for long-term growth.
Follow Sammi on Instagram here
Follow Stan on Instagram here
Follow John on YouTube here
Here’s what Sammi covers today with John:
00:00 John Hu’s Social Currency
00:35 Why Investment Banking Wasn’t It
04:43 How Stan Came From a Personal Pain Point
05:50 John’s Takes on the Creator Economy and Building a Business
11:23 Stan’s First Major Win
14:53 Stan’s Seed Round and Why John Is “Guarded” About Fundraising
18:36 John’s Tips on Finding a Business Opportunity
23:46 Stan's Unique Monetization Model
27:19 Behind Stan’s Customer Engagement and Content Strategy
27:38 Why Stan Personally Delivered One of Their Creators a Cake
29:23 John Answers Whether It’s Harder to Build a Personal Brand or a Company Brand
35:29 Secrets and Challenges to Building in Public
45:27 Social Currency Corner and Mr Beast
53:16 How to Show Social Currency Some Love
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The Epic Comeback of Barnes & Noble
30 mei 2025 · 21 min
Once dismissed as the next big retail casualty, Barnes & Noble had all the makings of a cautionary tale—shrinking sales, shuttered stores, and a revolving door of leadership. But in a surprising turn of the page, the bookstore giant is not only surviving—it’s thriving. Today, Sammi unpacks the epic comeback story of Barnes & Noble under the leadership of James Daunt. Lees meer
You’ll hear how the company pivoted away from a centralized, cookie-cutter model to embrace local community tastes, redesigned stores to rekindle the magic of browsing, and rode the wave of BookTok to win back readers. From understanding the brand’s original rise and near-fall, to dissecting the bold strategies behind its revival, this episode explores what Barnes & Noble’s rebound says about the future of retail—and why the story is far from over.
Here’s what Sammi covers today:
00:00 – Why Barnes & Noble Is a Case Worth Studying01:08 – The Origin Story of Barnes & Noble’s Empire
02:56 – The Beginning of the End of Barnes & Noble
04:42 – The Amazon of it All06:15 – Leadership Turmoil and the 80% Fall in Stock Price
08:10 – The Unexpected Turnaround and B&N’s MVP
10:19 – James Daunt’s Playbook for Success
11:42 – The Comeback: Growth, Expansion and BookTok
14:54 – The Future of Retail: Lessons from Barnes & Noble
16:51 – How to Show Social Currency Some Love
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Rea Ann Silva (Beautyblender) on Owning 100% of Her Company, Dupes and Creating a Category
27 mei 2025 · 56 min
Before the Beautyblender sponge was a staple in every makeup bag, it was a clever DIY tool dreamed up on set by professional makeup artist Rea Ann Silva. Then came a hot pink hero product, a cult following, and a revolution in the beauty industry. Lees meer
Today, Sammi sits down with Rea Ann to unpack how she turned her first invention into a multi-million dollar brand— and what it took to stay on top. They dig into the battle against dupes, the growing pains of scaling, and Rea Ann’s decision not to take outside capital. This is the story of a product that changed the beauty industry—and the founder who created the category.
Follow Sammi on Instagram here
Follow Beautyblender on Instagram here
Here’s what Sammi covers today with Rea Ann:
00:00 Updates from Sammi
00:23 The Origin Story of Beautyblender
03:17 How Rea Ann Built Her Prototype
15:50 The Decision to Keep Operations In-House
22:45 The Process Rea Ann Used to Build Her Team
23:39 Rea Ann’s Decision Not To Fundraise
28:30 The Secret to Organic Marketing
30:23 The Rise of Dupes in the Beauty Industry
33:46 How To Educate Your Consumer
37:46 How To Cater To Different Customers
39:59 Milestones and the Smithsonian Museum Story
46:20 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
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Uncovering the Wedding Industrial Complex
23 mei 2025 · 15 min
Why is saying “I do” costing Americans more than ever? In today’s episode, Sammi rips the veil off the modern wedding machine—revealing how a once-simple ceremony ballooned into a multibillion-dollar status symbol. From five-figure flower budgets to wedding cake surcharges, Sammi tracks who’s cashing in (think The Knot, Zola, and a swarm of luxury vendors) and how the creator economy has cranked up the pressure to go bigger, farther, and glossier. Plus, Sammi shares what she learned about destination weddings and saving on wedding dresses through her own experience. Lees meer
Here’s what Sammi covers today:
00:00 Updates From Sammi
01:12 How Much the Average Wedding Is Costing Americans
02:33 The Most Expensive Part of Saying “I Do”
04:47 Destination Weddings and Sammi’s Experience
05:52 Which Wedding Brands Are Winning
09:57 The Social Media Effect
11:53 Sammi’s Predictions: Which Wedding Trends Are Here to Stay
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Brian Kelly (The Points Guy) on How to Travel for Free, Turning a Hobby Into an Empire and Beating Burnout
20 mei 2025 · 57 min
Before credit card points were a lifestyle, Brian Kelly was just a travel-obsessed guy with a blog. Then came a viral New York Times article, a flood of traffic, and a big bet on affiliate marketing that turned The Points Guy into a multi-platform media empire. Today, Brian tells Sammi how he turned his passion project into a profitable business, what he learned from selling his brand twice, and how he secured partnerships with the biggest financial institutions in the world. Lees meer
Plus, Brian drops pro tips for maximizing travel rewards, choosing the best credit cards, and navigating the ever-changing landscape of travel perks. Whether you're a points rookie or a seasoned globetrotter, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.
In this convo, you’ll find out how to travel smarter — and maybe even in first class — without breaking the bank.
Follow Sammi on Instagram here
Follow Brian on Instagram here and The Points Guy here
Order Brian’s book How to Win at Travel here
Here’s what Sammi covers today with Brian:
00:00 Updates from Sammi
01:58 How Brian Became The Points Guy
08:01 Brian’s First Deal and Monetizing TPG
16:18 Scaling Challenges and Wins
24:11 Burnout and TPG’s Acquisition Stories
28:07 How the Pandemic Impacted TPG
29:41 How Brian Built Strong Partnerships
34:13 How Businesses Should Diversify Channels
36:20 Brian’s Unconventional Leadership Strategies
41:27 Social Currency Corner and Tips on Maximizing Travel Rewards
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How I Created Social Currency
16 mei 2025 · 32 min
Ever wondered if your side hustle could become your full-time gig? Today, Sammi shares everything she learned from taking that leap herself. Lees meer
If you’re sitting on a big idea or just curious what it really takes to bet on yourself, Sammi uses her own story as a case study to share actionable advice and a behind-the-scenes look at building a brand from scratch. She shares the key lessons from working the opening shift at Aldi, launching a match brand, pivoting into tech and logistics during the pandemic, and how Mindy Kaling gave her the ultimate confidence boost.
Follow Sammi on Instagram here
Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter here
Here’s what Sammi covers today:
00:00 Why This Episode is Special
02:39 Early Obsessions with Business
03:43 Why Entertainment Was Not It
05:33 The Aldi Experience (and Crying in Chicago)
08:46 Starting a Matcha Brand
12:22 The Origin Story of Tanner's Tea
13:43 The Pandemic Pivot
15:29 The First Video and (Later) Going Viral
19:03 Finding a Niche
19:59 The Turning Point
25:50 Building Social Currency
28:19 How You Can Show Social Currency Some Love
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Erewhon Economics: The Billion-Dollar Hype Behind America’s Bougiest Grocery Store
13 mei 2025 · 18 min
How did a small health food store become the go-to grocery destination for celebrities, influencers, nepo babies, and anyone who wants to signal their status and health to the world? Lees meer
Today, Sammi unpacks how your favorite influencer’s favorite grocery store, Erewhon, cultivated its cult following. Sammi traces the brand’s rise from its origin story, to the acquisition that changed everything, and how much money the brand is making from the Hailey Bieber smoothie. Sammi uncovers the real secret to Erewhon’s success— not the perfectly-curated aisles— but the transformation of wellness into a status symbol.
Here’s what Sammi covers today:
00:00 Updates from Sammi
02:12 Erewhon’s First Location and Origin Story
03:23 Erewhon’s Acquisition and the “Murdochs of Macrobiotics”
05:50 Erewhon’s Business Model, Surprising Bestsellers and Financials
07:46 Influencer Collaborations and Income From Luxury Smoothies
13:01 The Future of Erewhon and Health as a Status Symbol
14:04 How You Can Show Social Currency Some Love
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Ty Haney (Outdoor Voices, TYB, Joggy) on Leaving Her $100M Brand, the Girlboss Achilles Heel and Second Acts
13 mei 2025 · 58 min
At just 23 years old Ty Haney was the face of Outdoor Voices—the mind behind the “Doing Things” movement and a figure of the Girlboss era. Then came the backlash, boardroom battles, and exit from the brand she built. Today, Sammi sits down with Ty to unpack the rise and fall of Outdoor Voices and Ty’s game-changing second act. Lees meer
Ty reveals what she wishes she knew as a first-time founder, the dark side of VC and the most important lesson she’s learned on equity as a founder. She also shares the latest on her new ventures—Joggy, a clean energy brand, and TYB, a platform redefining what community-powered business looks like.
If you've ever launched, led, or lost something you built, this one will hit home.
Follow Sammi on Instagram here
Follow Ty on Instagram here
Check out TYB here and Joggy here
Here’s what Sammi covers today with Ty:
00:00 How Ty Haney Scaled Outdoor Voices to $100M
02:05 How to Build Community within your Business
06:17 The Curse of the Girlboss Era
08:41 The Trap of Growth Versus Profitability
21:13 The Importance of Equity as a Founder
23:27 Second Acts: TYB and Joggy
29:37 The Value Proposition of Joggy
32:21 The Value Proposition of TYB
46:00 Insights and Reflections
48:52 Social Currency Corner
49:58 Advice for Founders
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Introducing Social Currency
2 mei 2025 · 2 min
On Social Currency, Sammi Cohen unpacks the stories that are shaping business, culture and the intersection of the two. From boardrooms to Instagram trends, Sammi speaks with business leaders to connect the dots between brand, consumer and influence, so you don’t just keep up—you get ahead. Lees meer
New episodes drop every Tuesday and Friday. Follow now to stay in the know.
Want more? Find Sammi on Instagram @sammicohentalks.
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