Social Currency with Sammi Cohen

Why is protein suddenly everywhere? With 61% of Americans upping their intake, even Starbucks is getting in on the action, launching drinks with 36 grams of protein. The craze is fueled by GLP-1 weight loss drugs, viral TikTok trends, and celebrity endorsements. Cottage cheese sales soared by 20% as food companies scramble to innovate and meet skyrocketing demand. Chobani's bold $1.2 billion investment is just one sign of this massive shift in how we approach food. What’s next in the protein revolution?

Maria Davidson, the founder and CEO of Kojo, is transforming the construction industry with her groundbreaking procurement platform. She discusses how her immigrant roots and diverse educational background fueled her entrepreneurial spirit. Maria shares her scrappy beginnings, employing creative strategies like delivering pizza to earn meetings. She reveals lessons learned in fundraising, leadership, and the importance of customer feedback, emphasizing the growing allure of trade careers and her commitment to breaking barriers in a male-dominated field.

Explore the evolution of membership clubs as cultural status symbols, from 17th-century coffee houses to the iconic Soho House. Discover the implications of Soho House's $2.7 billion privatization on traditional exclusivity models. Delve into the rise of hyper-niche communities and the luxury third-space economy, where privacy trumps social media exposure. Sammi shares insights on the shifting landscape of belonging, emphasizing how exclusivity is transforming from velvet ropes to invisible threads.

From hand-bottling kombucha in an apartment kitchen to building a $500 million brand sold in tens of thousands of stores across the country, Vanessa Dew didn’t just build a company— she built a movement. As the co-founder of Health-Ade Kombucha, Vanessa turned a niche wellness drink into a household name, all while keeping true to the company’s artisanal roots. When Health-Ade was acquired in 2021, she had to redefine what success means in her second act as an advisor and investor. In this conversation, Vanessa opens up about the company’s scrappy beginnings, the hardest decisions she had to make while building her business, what it really feels like to exit, and how she’s now paying it forward by backing the next generation of founders.  Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Follow Vanessa  Here’s what Sammi and Vanessa cover today: 00:00 Vanessa Dew’s Social Currency 00:34 The Businesses Vanessa Almost Built 01:53 Kombucha Beginnings: Health-Ade’s First Batches 02:52 The Scrappy Startup Phase 04:33 From Farmers’ Markets to Grocery Shelves 09:52 Raising the First Round of Capital 13:22 The Rollercoaster of Funding Rounds 17:50 Co-Founders: Dividing Roles and Responsibilities 21:08 Scaling Without Losing Quality 23:44 Navigating Relationships Between Investors and Partners 25:58 Taking Health-Ade Nationwide 26:43 The Emotional Reality of Acquisition 28:21 Life After Exit and Redefining Success 35:49 Investing in Women Founders 38:48 Building Systems for Work-Life Balance 41:24 Where CPG Acquisitions Are Headed + Vanessa’s Advice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The host shares invaluable insights from her five years at a major online retailer. She emphasizes the power of customer obsession, revealing how an empty chair symbolizes putting the customer first. The concept of 'disagree and commit' encourages candid discussions followed by unified actions. Finally, she introduces a counterintuitive strategy: writing press releases before developing products, which fosters clarity and focus. These practical lessons promise to accelerate business growth and innovation.

What do you do after creating a $255 million brand that reshaped an entire industry? If you’re Alli Webb, founder of Drybar, you sell it, rebuild, and then launch something even more personal. Sammi and Alli go deep into the scrappy early days of Drybar, the chaos of scaling to hundreds of locations, and the bittersweet reality of selling your life’s work. Alli gets real about the toll entrepreneurship took on her personal life, the misconceptions she had to set straight, and the identity shift that came with “what’s next.” Now, she’s back with Messy—a new haircare line at Sephora that flips perfection on its head and celebrates authenticity.  Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Follow Alli on Instagram Find Messy at Sephora Here’s what Sammi and Alli cover today: 00:00 A Perfectly Timed Sale 00:26 Meet Alli Webb: From Blowouts to Billion-Dollar Buzz 01:39 How Drybar Was Born 03:07 From One Shop to a Movement 12:16 The Big Bet on Franchising 20:11 Turning Blowouts Into Products 25:00 Pandemic Curveballs & Selling the Business 30:41 Clearing Up the Myths 32:41 Writing The Messy Truth 35:48 Partnerships, Business, and Love Lessons 39:09 Enter Messy: Alli’s New Chapter 40:57 Why Messy is the New Perfect 49:49 Ambition vs. Self-Care 53:56 How to Show Social Currency Some Love Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This summer, denim wasn't just a fashion statement—it was a battlefield. Today, Sammi unpacks how American Eagle, Gap, and Lucky Brand launched three wildly different campaigns that turned jeans into a referendum on identity, controversy, and cultural capital. From American Eagle’s headline-grabbing Sydney Sweeney campaign to Gap’s inclusive girl-band-powered clapback, and Lucky Brand’s nostalgia-fueled Y2K revival with Addison Rae—Sammi breaks down how these brands are fighting for Gen Z’s attention and loyalty. Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Here’s what Sammi covers today: 00:00 Welcome to the Denim Wars 02:06 American Eagle’s Sydney Sweeney Bet: Controversy as Strategy 05:07 Gap’s Counterpunch: Inclusivity Goes Viral 06:07 Lucky Brand’s Nostalgia Play: Addison Rae and the Y2K Revival 06:39 The Bigger Picture on Fashion Marketing 08:18 Rivalries as a Branding Strategy 09:23 How to Show Social Currency Some Love Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bill Ready, CEO of Pinterest and former leader at Google and PayPal, shares insight into his transformative vision for the platform. He discusses the shift towards a healthier digital space, including making accounts under 16 private by default and tuning AI for positivity. Bill also highlights the rise of Gen Z shopping habits and how collaborations, such as Pinterest Predicts with Emma Chamberlain, are setting cultural trends. This conversation showcases the potential of social media when focused on progress over doomscrolling.

Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop has spent $140 million over 17 years but remains unprofitable, prompting a look into its paradox. The discussion reveals the challenges of maintaining a wellness empire, including the struggles of Goop Beauty and the surprising success of Goop Kitchen. Insights into leadership styles likened to Anna Wintour shed light on the differences between influencer appeal and corporate management. The conversation raises a provocative question: does Goop still have a place in 2025, or has its model been overshadowed?

Amy Liu, founder of Tower 28, shares her inspiring transition from corporate executive to beauty entrepreneur, diving into the real story behind her brand's success. She reveals the iconic Sephora pitch that launched her journey and the challenges faced while launching during the pandemic. Amy discusses the importance of choosing the right partners and building a supportive team culture, while also emphasizing the psychological impacts of beauty products on self-esteem. Plus, hear her insights on the perfect morning routine and engaging with the community!