Social Currency with Sammi Cohen

Discover the thrilling saga of PayPal’s rise from chaotic rivalry to startup powerhouse. Delve into the infamous coup that saw Elon Musk ousted on his honeymoon. Uncover how a group of ambitious misfits revolutionized financial trust and tech culture, leading to the creation of giants like Tesla and LinkedIn. Learn about their grueling work ethic, tribal loyalty, and the unique principles they spread across Silicon Valley. Explore how this iconic origin story reshaped the founder archetype and continues to influence today's tech landscape.

Marina and Ricardo Larroudé, dynamic co-founders of Larroudé, share their journey from job loss to launching a successful footwear brand. Marina, a former Teen Vogue fashion director, focuses on innovative design, while Ricardo, an ex-financier, drives operations and strategy. They discuss their unique direct-to-demand model, building a factory in Brazil, and using pre-orders to manage costs. The duo emphasizes product quality and customer satisfaction, while navigating challenges like return-to-vendor dynamics. Their inspiring story showcases resilience and creativity in business.

Discover the rise of microdramas, those addictive 90-second shows reshaping entertainment. Sammi Cohen explores how they generate billions, outpacing traditional Hollywood blockbusters. With a focus on AI-driven production and phone-first formats, these stories cater to diminishing attention spans. Learn why platforms like YouTube are thriving while Quibi faltered. Dive into the psychology behind viewer engagement, the business models at play, and what this all means for the future of storytelling in a digital age.

Gwen Whiting, co-founder of The Laundress, reflects on her journey transforming laundry into a luxury brand before its acquisition by Unilever, which led to unforeseen challenges. She discusses the stark culture clash between indie startups and corporations, facing a massive product recall, and the gender dynamics in business. Gwen shares her resilience in launching The Fill, a home wellness company, focusing on sustainability and community. Her candid insights on acquisitions and navigating entrepreneurial pitfalls are essential for any founder.

Today’s episode is all about the billion dollar business built on a business model that defies every rule of traditional retail; they occupy buildings for just three months a year, hire around 50,000 seasonal workers, carry zero inventory for nine months, and somehow they're not just surviving— they are thriving. The business? Spirit Halloween, of course.  While most retailers are bleeding cash or shuttering entirely, Spirit has cracked the code on how to win in the age of e-commerce — by being deliberately temporary. Sammi unpacks how the brand turns ghost-town real estate into an asset, runs on a gig economy workforce, and creates an IRL experience that even Amazon can’t compete with. You’ll hear how Spirit’s seasonal strategy defies every traditional retail rule — and yet, earns over $1 billion annually. Plus, Sammi looks into the company’s bold new experiment: Spirit Christmas. Is it nostalgia or novelty fueling this growth? And what can other brands learn from Spirit’s spooky-smart playbook? Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Today, Sammi covers: 00:00 The Origin Story of Spirit Halloween 02:01 The Business Model Behind Spirit Halloween 02:36 The Seasonal Operations of Spirit Halloween 03:05 Real Estate Strategy 04:28 Inventory Management 04:53 The Workforce and Tear Down 05:53 The Billion Dollar Success 08:07 Spirit Christmas: A New Experiment 09:05 Lessons from Spirit Halloween 12:31 How to Show Social Currency Some Love Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In part two of her Restoration Hardware deep dive, Sammi pulls back the curtain on what’s really at the top of “Luxury Mountain.”  From the troubled Aspen expansion and RH’s sky-high ambitions in Europe, to eyebrow-raising governance decisions, failed ventures, and Warren Buffett’s very public goodbye— you have to wonder: is the RH foundation starting to crack? Sammi explores whether RH is still building the “LVMH of America” or if it’s become a masterclass in overreach, vanity projects, and vibes over fundamentals. Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Today, Sammi covers: 00:00 RH's Luxury Journey  01:11 Unveiling the Cracks in RH's Luxury Facade  03:10 International Expansion: A Grand Vision with Flaws  07:52 Warren Buffett's Exit: A Signal of Trouble  09:56 Legal Battles and Creative Controversies  12:20 Aspen Project: The Dream vs. Reality  14:13 Luxury Assets and Governance Issues  19:58 How to Show Social Currency Some Love The following content is based on publicly available information and includes personal opinions and analysis. It should not be interpreted as fact beyond what has been publicly reported, and it does not constitute investment advice. This podcast is not affiliated with or sponsored by any company mentioned. While all information is accurate to the best of the show’s knowledge at the time of recording, details may change after publication. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dive into the fascinating world of Restoration Hardware and its unconventional CEO, Gary Friedman. Discover how he transformed a struggling furniture company into a luxury brand powerhouse. From quirky beginnings in 1979 to a daring IPO, the journey reveals shocking twists—including a notable true crime interlude. Delve into RH's innovative marketing strategies, the creation of experiential gallery stores, and the ambitious push towards luxury, complete with yachts and private jets. It's a captivating look at ambition, branding, and retail challenges.

Building something that lasts is rare. Building something that rewires an entire industry? That’s almost unheard of. But that’s exactly what Jim McKelvey did when he co-founded Square (now Block) with Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey.  Today, Jim and Sammi talk about how Square went head-to-head with Amazon and won, why Jim believes most startups don’t understand what real innovation looks like, and the surprising psychology behind a piece of tech being just difficult enough to capture attention. Plus, they dive into his more recent ventures, Invisibly and Fastrials, and what serving as an independent director at the Federal Reserve taught him about the intersection of policy and entrepreneurship. Plus, his hot take on— and role in— tipping culture. Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Here’s what Sammi covers with Jim: 00:00 Jim McKelvey’s Social Currency  01:17 How Square Evolved From A Personal Painpoint 02:37 That Time Jim Stripped in a Business Pitch 05:13 The Psychology of Attention in Business 19:50 How Square Beat Amazon 31:21 Understanding Human Behavior and Social Pressure 32:17 Lessons From Jim’s Time as a Federal Reserve Director 38:19 Why Invisibly Failed, Profitably  40:28 Jim’s Newest Venture and Revolutionizing Drug Trials 45:48 Advice for Entrepreneurs in Regulated Industries 53:33 Tipping Culture and FinTech Predictions 58:24 How to Show Social Currency Some Love Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Imagine a future where AI handles all your shopping—research, recommendations, and purchases within ChatGPT! Discover how the new Agentic Commerce Protocol could transform e-commerce by integrating instant checkout and changing consumer behavior. Sammi explores the potential challenges this poses to Google, from collapsing the traditional shopping funnel to creating a paradigm shift in online search. Hear about the implications for both consumers and merchants, and how quality data will be crucial for AI-driven recommendations.

From small studios to celebrity status, Tracy Anderson has built one of the most influential—and imitated—fitness empires in the world. Today, Sammi sits down with the fitness icon whose method has shaped some of the most famous bodies in Hollywood to peel back the layers of the brand, the science, and the woman behind it. Tracy opens up about the evolution of her signature method, the tension between exclusivity and accessibility, and what it really takes to maintain your signature style in a copycat industry. She also shares her candid thoughts on the rise of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, the tech takeover of the wellness space, and why protecting intellectual property is the next frontier in fitness. Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Follow Tracy Anderson on Instagram Here’s what Sammi covers with Tracy: 00:00 Tracy Anderson’s Social Currency 00:22 The Myths Behind the Method 07:45 Spotting the Gap in the Fitness Industry 09:36 The Early Days of the Method 15:42 The Science Behind Her Signature Workouts and Partnering with Gwyneth Paltrow 24:53 Balancing Exclusivity and Accessibility 39:37 Copycats, Copyrights, and IP Protection 51:13 The Rise of Wellness Tech 52:21 Aging, Beauty, and Authenticity 1:01:18 How to Show Social Currency Some Love Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices