The Andrew Faris Podcast Popsmith Was 2 Weeks From Bankruptcy. Then Oprah Called.
Nov 19, 2025
Tal Moore and Dave Stickland, co-founders of Popsmith, take listeners on a rollercoaster ride through their near-bankruptcy saga. They reveal the emotional toll of their financial crisis and the grace that kept their partnership intact. The duo details the game-changing moment when a cold pitch to Oprah led to unimaginable sales and a brand resurgence. From tactical marketing strategies to prioritizing personal mental health, they share invaluable lessons for founders navigating the highs and lows of entrepreneurship.
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Personal Bet Nearly Sank The Company
- Tal spent $1.2M of his own money, raised $1.6M from friends and family, and personally guaranteed a $1.3M bank line to launch Popsmith. He reached a point in January where they had two weeks of runway and Tal injected $600k more to buy six months to fix the business.
Doing Channels Yourself Builds Judgment
- Founders who haven't learned core channel mechanics become easy prey to vendors promising growth. Andrew argues that doing channel work yourself builds the POV needed to evaluate outside advice.
Learn Ad Basics Before Hiring Agencies
- Learn the platforms yourself before hiring agencies so you can evaluate vendors and push back effectively. Dave taught himself Meta ads and Canva creatives to gain the basics and hold agencies accountable.