Episodes
Emily Vaca, Founder & CEO of LA VACA Designhouse, talks about having a one-in-a-million idea, designing the iconic MINNIDIP pool, and what it’s like to take a huge bet on yourself.
Published 03/30/22
Published 03/30/22
Steve Denton didn’t grow up knowing how to be accountable, he had to learn that skill throughout his life. Along the way, accountability turned into dependability and, more importantly, resiliency, which has helped him see his way through a journey filled with highs and lows.
Published 03/23/22
Jackie Burke wasn’t interested in being an entrepreneur. As an engineer, she was very risk-averse. But when her own skin allergy had her searching for a hypoallergenic earring and coming up empty, she felt called to solve a problem - and in the process, started a business, Tini Lux, that has since become a solution for folks with sensitive ears everywhere.
Published 03/16/22
Richer Poorer’s Iva Pawling talks about the pitfalls of over-focused branding, the necessity of quickly adapting, and how finding a loyal following in a niche market makes it all worth it.
Published 03/09/22
Amy Welsman, Founder & CEO of the global powerhouse hand care brand, Paume, talks about what she calls her “zigzag path” to entrepreneur, learning on the job, and what it’s like to launch a standout brand of soaps and sanitizers during the onslaught of a global pandemic.
Published 03/02/22
Travis Rosbach knew two things: he wanted to invent a great water bottle, and he wanted to help save the planet. Turns out, he was onto something. Hear how he turned Hydro Flask into a worldwide sensation – and what he’s doing to help the next generation of entrepreneurs – on this episode of The Journey.
Published 02/23/22
Matthew Herman has always been pushing against the norm. From their time at NastyGal fashion to their current business — Boy Smells, a queer-owned fragrance and personal product brand — they’ve been encouraging people to be more authentic. Find out how this force of fashion took their vision to the world of fragrances, and how Boy Smells is pushing the confines of gender expression in an innovative way.
Published 02/16/22
Raili Clasen followed her talents and passion into a field where she knew nothing except what her gut was telling her – and she created a successful business off of her designing instincts. But what happens once your business is successful and you have to start delegating? Find out on this episode.
Published 02/09/22
Kelley Higney was a mom on a mission. Her young daughter was constantly being eaten alive by mosquitos. After exhausting every cream and repellent on the market, Kelley turned to some more unorthodox solutions… and found an answer that built an empire.
Published 02/02/22
Francois Kress spent more than twenty years running some of the world’s most recognizable luxury brands, but when he felt burned out, something had to give. This powerhouse entrepreneur mixed things up by returning to his science-loving roots and setting his sights on changing the wellness industry.
Published 01/26/22
Nadine Fonseca, Co-Founder at Mighty Kind, an Anti-Bias Series for Kids, always knew exactly what she wanted to do with her life, join the Marines, like her father. Plot twist, the path quickly diverted away from this possibility, and what transpired was a series of big life changes and pivots. Where did she land and how did it all lead to her sharing her passion for diversity and cultural respect and inclusion through Mighty Kind? Find out on this episode.
Published 01/19/22
Hilary Coles believes that in order to be successful — in life or in business — you need options. You need choice. You need to be empowered. But in some areas, that’s not always possible, so Hilary is changing the options. Learn how on this episode.
Published 01/12/22
Patricia Santos did not set out to start a beauty company. But when she saw a problem that needed solving in the intensely competitive (and overwhelmingly male) world of cosmetics, she knew she had landed on a good idea. That good idea – Volition Beauty – is quickly re-shaping the cosmetics landscape by putting the power back in the hands of the consumer in an innovative way.
Published 01/05/22
The risks we do not take in life and in business are just as important as the ones we do. For Julian Reis, CEO and Founder of SuperOrdinary, successfully weighing these opportunity costs is what has allowed him to spot macro trends, understand when to make career leaps, as well as when to make business investments. On The Journey, Julian tells us how he’s leveraged this mindset to build a worldwide team of experts and create a brand that’s expanding globally.
Published 12/29/21
Jeremy Cai, CEO at Italic, got an early appetite for the entrepreneurial journey. He dipped out of college, thanks to a little help from the prestigious and controversial Thiel Fellowship, and got to work learning the ropes of start-up life in Silicon Valley. But the idea for Italic didn’t start in the Valley, it first came to light thanks to Jeremy’s family’s deep roots in the manufacturing space and he continues to tweak and learn lessons about the business every day.
Published 12/22/21
Andrew Suzuka is the founder of Otamot Foods, a veggie-infused tomato sauce brand that now graces the shelves of Whole Foods. Andrew’s decades of experience in marketing and his lifelong passion for wholesome and tasty food laid the groundwork for Otamat, but one mindset proved to always hold him back - he believed that sharing his business ideas would be “giving them away”. On The Journey, Andrew talks about the necessity of collaboration in business and why sharing your ideas can give them...
Published 12/15/21
BottleKeeper is a multi-million dollar company consistently growing dramatically year over year. But it didn’t start that way. Early growth was slow, and it took careful testing and iterating again and again to achieve the success the company has seen. So what tools and mindsets did Adam Callinan, co-founder and President of BottleKeeper, lean into that set the company on the road to success? And what has changed since launching that’s continued to allow BottleKeeper to grow far more than...
Published 12/08/21
Very little was expected from Paul Rathnam. As a child, he faced doubters and challenges that would demoralize most people. But today, Paul is the owner of ModPools, he’s made millions of dollars and he did it all thanks to one simple word: yes.
Published 12/01/21
Rod Johnson, the Co-Founder of BLK & Bold Specialty Beverages, has not only managed to successfully create a craft coffee brand, but he and his partner have done so at scale, all while serving their community and doing good in the world at the same time.
Published 11/24/21
We reveal who we are through our words, our actions and in the way we carry ourselves personally and in business. Those who let their true colors show — good and bad — are the ones who connect most with people around them. Michael Chernow is a multi-time founder who is currently bringing his authentic story to life with his new company, Kreatures of Habit, and he’s hoping it’s the next great chapter in his story.
Published 11/17/21
Los Sundays Tequila did just about everything different to earn its place at the bar, but one lesson in particular was the hardest and almost completely destructive - trusting the wrong people. Founder and CEO Mitchell Hayes shares his story, including not only how he created, branded, and sold his tequila, but also how he rebuilt the company after one major misstep and is finding success today.
Published 11/10/21
Johannes Quodt is the co-Founder and Co-CEO of Koio, and for him, telling the best story is equivalent to having the best brand.
Published 11/03/21
Starting a business alone is risky. But starting a business with someone else brings layers of other potential risk. So how do you find that perfect cofounder? And how do you work with them respectfully and successfully day in and day out? Elsie Rutterford and Dominika Minarovic, co-founders of BYBI, are closer than a married couple and today, they share what brought them together and what has kept them together through thick and thin.
Published 10/27/21
For too long, world-renowned chefs in Michelin star restaurants would present the finest food in the world, but how the chefs looked did not match the quality of the plates they were putting forward. That was until Ellen Bennett walked in through the back alley door. She was determined to cloak the chefs that she respected so much with aprons that would give them the confidence they inspired and that idea led to the founding of her multimillion-dollar company, Hedley & Bennett.
Published 10/20/21