Social Currency with Sammi Cohen

Sammi reflects on a transformative 2025, sharing her journey from Amazon employee to podcaster. She recounts challenges like building a podcast studio during LA fires and emphasizes the necessity of diversifying revenue streams. The importance of a personal brand is highlighted, alongside mindset shifts that encourage dreaming big and using visualization for goal achievement. Sammi discusses overcoming comparison and planning for future growth, reminding listeners that taking risks is part of the journey.

Rebecca Minkoff, an innovative fashion designer and advocate for female entrepreneurs, shares her gritty journey from a $3.25/hour intern to founding a renowned brand known for hits like the Morning After Bag. She reveals the serendipitous moments that shaped her career and discusses the realities of navigating a crowded fashion landscape. From avoiding VC pitfalls to exploring unique customer acquisition strategies like Tupperware parties, Rebecca offers invaluable insights for aspiring founders while tackling modern challenges in accessible luxury.

Women in corporate America aren’t burned out because of how much they’re working—they’re burned out by how much the system isn’t working for them. Today, Sammi breaks down the latest Women in the Workplace report from Lean In and McKinsey, and the findings are more alarming than the headlines suggest. For the first time in over a decade, women are less interested in climbing the corporate ladder—not because they don’t want success, but because the ladder itself is broken. Sammi unpacks the data behind the growing “ambition gap,” the consequence of rolling back DEI efforts, and why women are still being penalized for flexibility and remote work—while men aren’t.  Sammi connects the dots between structural corporate failures and the rise of an entirely new career model—one that could define the next decade of work in America. If companies don’t adapt, Sammi says, they may be staring down a long-term talent crisis. Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  00:00 The Breaking Point 01:10 Inside the Women in the Workplace report 02:15 The Truth About the “Ambition Gap” 3:13 The Broken Rung Problem 5:58 Corporate America’s Retreat from DEI 7:03 The Rise of Portfolio Careers 8:45 The Future of Work Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Andrew Chau, co-founder of Boba Guys and pioneer of artisanal bubble tea in the U.S., as he dives into the journey of transforming bubble tea into a cultural phenomenon. Discover his insights on authentic branding, the importance of educating customers about Asian culture, and how Boba Guys set trends in café aesthetics. Andrew also shares his creative process behind the strawberry matcha latte and discusses the evolving café landscape as it becomes more influenced by Asian flavors. Get ready for a delightful exploration of culture, consumer behavior, and community!

A blockbuster lawsuit between two retail giants reveals consumers are shifting away from paying premium prices for legacy brands. The discussion dives into Quince's disruptive business model that offers luxury looks at attainable prices. Listeners learn about the controversy surrounding misleading comparisons and how Quince leverages data to replicate trending items. The implications of this case may reshape the marketing landscape, reflecting evolving consumer values and skepticism about brand loyalty.

Luana Lopes Lara, co-founder of Kalshi and the youngest self-made female billionaire, shares her journey of building a regulated prediction market platform that allows trading on real-world outcomes. She discusses the impact of the 2024 election on Kalshi's business and how their markets have surpassed traditional polling methods. Luana also reveals her battle with regulators, the significance of ethical trading, and highlights how everyday experts profit from niche knowledge. With insights on the future of prediction markets, she believes they could outpace stock exchanges.

Dive into the chaotic launch of a Tribeca grocery store that sparked wild social media reactions. From undercooked chicken nuggets to a viral mouse sighting, discover how one store's opening became a cultural phenomenon. Explore the founder's journey from investment to retail and the hype fueled by TikTok. Delve into the idea of food as a modern status symbol and how luxury perceptions twist our shopping habits. Get ready for a rollercoaster of PR disasters and social commentary on consumerism!

Babba Rivera, Founder and CEO of Ceremonia, a haircare brand celebrating Latin heritage, shares her inspiring journey from agency work to building a culturally-rooted business. She reflects on blending her Swedish upbringing with her Chilean roots, early beauty rituals, and tough lessons from leading teams at Uber. Babba discusses rapidly growing Ceremonia, securing funding during COVID, and how she turned marketing cuts into profitability. She emphasizes a community-first approach in beauty and the importance of supporting Hispanic consumer narratives.

A deep dive into the acquisition of Hailey Bieber's Rhode by e.l.f. reveals groundbreaking transparency in financials. Discover the impressive 9x marketing efficiency and why low production costs are key to Rhode's business model. The record launch at Sephora and the brand's unique challenges with limited SKUs are also discussed. Plus, insights on how Rhode's approach to cultural capital compares to Fenty show the evolving landscape of celebrity beauty brands. Hailey’s personal involvement is highlighted as a major asset.

Julia Cheek, Founder and CEO of Everlywell, revolutionizes health diagnostics with her at-home testing company. She shares her journey from a frustrating lab experience that sparked her entrepreneurial spirit to the pivotal moments during COVID when Everlywell scaled rapidly. Julia also recounts her Shark Tank experience, the challenges of fundraising as a female founder, and her vision for the future of proactive healthcare, including biohacking and telehealth innovation. Her insights on consumer trust and insurance integration are particularly enlightening.