Girlboss Radio With Sophia Amoruso

If you have a business idea, chances are at some point you start thinking about how you can best win over potential investors. How can you get them to say 'Yes!' to your big idea? And, more importantly, how can you get them to take out their checkbooks, too? On this week's #GirlbossRadio episode, Sophia Amoruso talks with Suzy Ryoo, who has spent the better part of her career strategically analyzing companies and determining whether or not they’re worth the financial investment. But today, Suzy is also on the other side of the investor/entrepreneur relationship. She’s the co-founder, president, and chief strategy officer of a new entertainment and technology company called Q&A, which she launched less than a year ago with Troy Carter & J. Erving (who just so happen to be some pretty notable music industry veterans). Download the episode to learn what three things Suzy looks for when deciding whether to invest. Plus, you'll hear how she stays grounded and why joining a startup early on can pay off in the long-

One of the most pervasive problems plaguing our world and environment right now is exactly how much plastic we use once and then toss. Not to mention that it often makes its way into the ocean every year. It can feels overwhelming—and there isn’t one solution out there, but with such a massive problem, there are new companies out there whose goal it is to help solve the issue. On this week's Girlboss Radio, Sophia Amoruso chats with Sarah Paiji Yoo, the co-founder and CEO of Blueland, a company that's trying to eliminate single-use plastics in the world of cleaning products. The idea is this: You buy the cleaning bottle once and when you need more cleaning solution, you fill it up with water, drop in a cleaning tablet and then you get a brand new full bottle of solution. Tune in to hear how Sarah and Blueland are part of a new wave of companies focused on merging business and sustainability.  To keep up with Sarah, follow her at: https://www.instagram.com/spaiji/Feedback on the show? Email us at podcasts@girl

Catt Sadler's career as an entertainment journalist was, by many means, a dream job. It allowed her to cover the red carpet and interview many of Hollywood's hottest celebrities. But, in 2017 while working as a co-host at E! News, Catt found out some startling information. Her male coworker was getting paid "twice" her salary at the network. So—she asked for more at the bargaining table. But after the back and forth negotiations, no deal was struck and Catt did what few thought she would: She walked away from the "dream job" at the glamorous network she'd worked at for years. Since her much-publicized departure, Catt has become a vital voice in the conversation surrounding equal pay and the wage gap. On this week's episode of Girlboss Radio, Catt dives into why she decided to walk away and why she's so excited about her new projects—like her own podcast, Naked with Catt Sadler—and why she's not slowing down anytime soon. To keep up with Catt, go to http://www.thecattwalk.com/To hear Catt interview Sophia, lis

On this episode of Girlboss Radio, Piera takes us on her journey from growing up in a small town in Maine to running a major media company in New York. Co-founder and executive creative director of Refinery29, Piera’s colorful influence can be felt everywhere but especially in the dreamlike spectacle that is @29rooms, an interactive exhibition filled with art and experiences that Piera spearheaded. Inspired by everything from children's books to Guggenheim exhibits, Piera walks through the world with eyes and ears open, always ready to find her new creative endeavor. Tune in to hear more about how Piera met her co-founder and forever "work wife" and what adjusting to life as a new mom has been like. Recorded live in front of an audience at the Girlboss Rally in L.A.! To keep up with Piera Gelardi on Instagram, follow her here---> @pieraluisa 

Chances are that—in today's wellness-focused industry—you've heard the benefits of probiotics. But what is the science behind it all? On this week's show, Sophia Amoruso speaks to Ara Katz, the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Seed. Seed is a consumer life science company that develops probiotics and is also pioneering the applications of bacteria to improve human and planetary health. Listen to hear Ara discuss how her breastfeeding experience led her to discover the microbiome and inspired a personal mission to explore the importance of microbes and how they can impact the health of our bodies, our children, and our planet. Plus, hear how she transitioned from producing in Hollywood to entrepreneurship with companies like BeachMint. To learn more about Seed, go to https://seed.com/To keep up with what's new at Seed, follow them at https://www.instagram.com/seed/ Have feedback on the show? Email us at podcasts@girlboss.com

Thanks to our friends over at TUMI, we’re able to bring you a special, bonus episode of the podcast, recorded live in front of an audience at the Girlboss Rally in L.A.! On this episode of Girlboss Radio, Aurora walks us through how she founded Brother Vellies with just $3,500 dollars in her pocket. The goal, she says, was to introduce traditional African shoes to the rest of the world while adhering to ethical and sustainable fashion practices. Plus, she shares how she maintains a healthy relationship with social media and her thoughts on why brick-and-mortar stores still have a role to play in retail. And—least but not least—some news! Aurora is joining the Girlboss Radio Network as the host for the new season of In Progress, the podcast. We launched In Progress last year with our partners at TUMI and we are so stoked that they’ve decided to help us bring you another season. Tune in to hear what's in store for the new season.  Don't forget to subscribe to In Progress, wherever you get your podcasts! New epi

You don't have to be a makeup lover to understand how much of a game changer the NAKED palette from Urban Decay was when it was first released in 2010. Its beautiful assortment of neutral eyeshadow colors with just the right mix of shimmering pigments quickly became a staple in everyone’s makeup kit after it launched. And on this week's episode, we hear from Wende Zomnir, the Chief Creative Officer and a founding partner of Urban Decay Cosmetics. She gave us the low-down on she went from playing in her mother's makeup drawer to building #2 makeup brand in the US. Tune in to learn how she's stayed ahead of the trends, from day one. Keep up with Urban Decay and Wende on Instagram, follow:@urbandecaycosmetics and @udwende

While at Nasty Gal, Sophia Amoruso relied on Lisa Buhler’s eye as a buyer to curate the company’s fashion merchandise. Fast forward to today, and Lisa is still spotting trends, except this time she's doing it for her own online clothing boutique, Lisa Says Gah! On this week’s episode of Girlboss Radio, Lisa and Sophia catch up on old times and what’s changed for the two of them since exiting Nasty Gal. Tune in to hear how Lisa has made sustainability a core, but profitable, part of her business model. The two also dive into what it takes to build a small, but well-functioning team and when you know it's time to let someone go. Plus, you'll hear Sophia and Lisa talk all things fashion, retail, Instagram and trend-spotting. To shop Lisa's boutique, go to: lisasaysgah.comFollow the store on IG: @lisasaysgahFeedback on the show? Email us at: podcasts@girlboss.com

Ayesha Curry is familiar with living her life in the limelight. Yet along with fame, she deals with scrutiny from fans, tabloids, and—of course—trolls. That hasn’t stopped her, though, from charting her own course in the food industry. Over the years, Ayesha has released a bestselling cookbook, a line of cookware, opened a Michelin-star restaurant, and launched a meal-kit delivery service. Now, she's executive producing and hosting the ABC cooking show Family Food Fight. Getting here hasn’t been without its challenges and missteps, she tells Sophia. Listen to the full episode for a frank conversation Ayesha and Sophia about what it takes to balance work, family, and personal ambition.

We've got a bonus episode of Girlboss Radio for you this week—straight from Code Conference, the premier technology conference by Recode and Vox Media. It was our first Girlboss Radio episode taped in front of a live audience and we couldn't be happier to have done it with Brynn Putnam, the mastermind behind Mirror, a new fitness technology that's making waves in the industry. Mirror looks exactly like what it sounds like—a mirror—except it transmits workout classes for you to follow along from the comfort of your own home. But that's just the start. Putnam has some big plans for the MIRROR to eventually become the third screen in our lives. In this episode, you'll learn about Putnam's journey from a ballerina to an entrepreneur and what she's learned about wellness, fundraising and business along the way To hear more podcasts from Code, or more shows from the Vox Media Podcast Network, head to podcasts.voxmedia.com. To watch interviews from Code, head to youtube.com/recode. To keep up to date on Mirror, foll

We’ve got a special guest this week: NY senator and presidential candidate Kirsten Gillibrand joins Girlboss Radio for a wide-ranging conversation with Girlboss COO Neha Gandhi. As a presidential candidate, Sen. Gillibrand has some sweeping political reforms on the table. For instance, she’s advocating for publicly funded elections as a way to get big corporate money out of politics, she’s pledged to not appoint judges who would help overturn Roe v. Wade, and she’s introduced a “Family Bill of Rights” to help families raising children. Tune in to hear how growing up in a family of female activists planted the seeds for Gillibrand’s political career, how Hillary Clinton inspired her, and why fundraising for politics—or a business venture—starts with how you frame the ask. To find out more about Sen. Gillibrand's campaign, visit: https://kirstengillibrand.com/Follow her on Twitter at: @SenGillibrand https://twitter.com/SenGillibrand Have feedback on the show? Email us at podcasts@girlboss.com

We often think of being “niche” as meaning “small.” But, as we learn on this week’s episode, building niche communities just *might* be the future of all media and businesses. To help us understand how the landscape of social networks and community-building has changed in recent years, Sophia Amoruso chats with Gina Bianchini, founder and CEO of Mighty Networks. Bianchini is an expert on network effects, what it takes to cultivate an audience and, perhaps more importantly, what it means to build a micro-community in 2019. Listen to learn why having a narrow focus is good for organic brand- and audience-building. To learn more about Mighty Networks, go to https://www.mightynetworks.com/Keep up with Gina Bianchini, follow her at https://twitter.com/ginab If you have any questions or feedback on the show, get in touch: podcasts@girlboss.com

On this week’s Girlboss Radio, we hear from Afton Vechery, co-founder and CEO of Modern Fertility. It’s a company that’s taken the standard blood tests you would normally get at a fertility clinic and made them available at-home. The goal, she says, is to empower women to have more information about their fertility, so we can all make informed decisions in regard to our own family-planning goals. Listen to hear what science can and can’t tell us about our fertility. Plus, Vechery talks business, sharing her advice on selecting the right co-founder, leveling up on time management, and why having a clear mission will get you through tough times. To learn more about Modern Fertility, visit https://modernfertility.com/To keep up with Afton, follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/aaffttoonn If you have any feedback on the show, email us at: podcasts@girlboss.com 

Season 1 of the new series, Gangster Capitalism is on the 2019 College Admissions Scandal that is exposing everyone from Hollywood celebrities to CEOs in an unprecedented scam. Award-winning filmmaker and host of the podcast What Really Happened?, Andrew Jenks introduces you to the people involved and the inner workings of this fraud. He also explores the larger debate around higher education in America.  Available wherever you listen to podcasts, just search for “Gangster Capitalism."

You're probably seen photos of the Museum of Ice Cream, that dessert wonderland with a pool of sprinkles and candy confections that just beg for a photo to be taken. But, hashtags and perfect feed placements aside, what did it take to make it all a reality—and quickly scale it into a recognizable brand and product? On this week's Girlboss Radio, founder of Girlboss, Sophia Amoruso chats with Maryellis Bunn, the woman who first had the vision and tenacity to make the Museum of Ice Cream a reality. In this episode, Sophia and Maryellis talk about why we're all craving more meaningful moments, while dealing with (and appealing to) shortened attention spans. Learn why the MOIC partnered with researchers at Yale to study the psychology of happiness and why a more productive lifestyle is code for figuring out how to better spend our time. Plus, hear why colonizing Mars might just be the next step for her. To find out more about the Museum of Ice Cream, go to: https://www.museumoficecream.comTo keep up with Maryelli

When Shivani Siroya founded Tala, she had a simple mission: To help overcome the barrier to accessing credit lines that people in developing economies face. Enter Tala, a finance and technology company that provides microloans and other financial services via its mobile app to people in countries like Kenya, Mexico, and the Philippines. And with billions of people around the world without a readily accessible “financial identity,” Tala has quickly grown from a small team of 4 to an international company with more than 500 employees. In this episode, Girlboss COO Neha Gandhi chats with Siroya about how she scaled Tala into an international team who work with a shared sense of purpose. You'll learn why Tala gives out “peer bonuses,” why competition is a good thing, and why a little obsession readies you for success.To learn more about Tala, go to--> https://tala.co/ Keep up to date with Shivani Siroya on Twitter by following her at --> https://twitter.com/shivsiroya

Today, Elaine Welteroth is an award-winning journalist, author, and former editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue. But before all of that, Welteroth was just a normal college student searching on Google for tips on how to work in magazines. Eventually, she landed a dream internship at a publication she’d long respected. But—then Welteroth had a choice to make: Say yes to an internship at a publication she'd always wanted to work at, or work elsewhere, but with a woman whose career she'd long admired? She chose the latter, and that was the beginning of her journey in the magazine business. On this episode of Girlboss Radio, Welteroth talks about her new book, More Than Enough, where she chronicles her career in publishing, how she gained the confidence to trust her instincts and why she took take a leap of faith to pursue her own projects. To keep up with Elaine Welteroth on Instagram, follow her here---> @elainewelteroth To pre-order More Than Enough, go here-->https://amzn.to/2Q3yb9D

Alyssa Milano has a turbulent love affair with social media. On one hand, she loves being able to see what political and social issues matter most to ordinary people around the globe. On the other hand, she's fully aware that platforms like Twitter are full of dark corners, where political dialogue becomes circular—even toxic. Still, all of it has allowed her to own a brand of activism that's all hers. In this week's episode of Girlboss Radio, Milano chats with Girlboss COO Neha Gandhi about why she thinks we need more dialogue regarding the spectrum of sexual assault and harassment, why "boots on the ground" is her favorite type of activism work, and why she's proud to call former vice president (and current presidential hopeful) Joe Biden a friend. To keep up with Alyssa Milano on Twitter, follow her at: https://twitter.com/Alyssa_Milano To listen to Sorry Not Sorry, go to: http://apple.co/2vqW0P5

Cyndi Ramirez will be the first to tell you that the idea of opening her own spa and manicure location, much less one ready-made for the age of Instagram, never occurred to her. Indeed, it wasn’t until Cyndi was out with her husband and looking for a massage spot (and perhaps even a manicure) that the origins of what would later become Chillhouse, crept into her mind. Today, Ramirez has built Chillhouse into a brand that goes beyond the spa and wellness hub of New York City. Instead, it's a company and brand dedicated to self-care. On this episode, Girlboss founder and CEO Sophia Amoruso chats with Ramirez about how you get your first customers, what it's like to work with PR and how you can scale your brand. To read up on all things Chillhouse and self-care, check out the company blog-->http://thechilltimes.com/To keep up with Cyndi Ramirez, follow her on IG-->https://www.instagram.com/cyndiramirez/

Valerie Jarrett has known and worked with the Obamas for 28 years and it all began with a job interview with Michelle Obama, then Michelle Robinson. Fast-forward to today, and Jarrett has the distinction of being the longest-serving senior advisor to ANY president in history, after having served as senior advisor to President Obama all eight years while in office. She’s currently a senior advisor to the Obama Foundation and sits on the board of directors for companies like Lyft and the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts and others. And, she recently wrote a book, Finding My Voice: My Journey to the West Wing and the Path Forward, which chronicles her journey from being a quiet girl in segregated Chicago to one of the most visible and influential African-American women of the 21st century. Listen in as Jarrett and Girlboss COO Neha Gandhi discuss what it was like working in the White House, how we can all be more confident, and why being yourself—and owning your voice—is a win for everyone. To buy Finding My