The Unschool by Andi Alleman

Join the waitlist for the Cult Brand Accelerator Today Andi chats with Aliett Buttelman, cofounder of Fazit, on the glitter-freckle phenomenon that leapt from TikTok to A-list status. After Taylor Swift (plus Rita Ora, Kacey Musgraves, and Lisa of BLACKPINK) wore Fazit’s Glitter Freckles Makeup Patches, the brand’s press pat peel ritual turned into a movement, spiking sales and cementing Fazit as a cult brand to watch. You’ll hear: The founding arc: from “patch peel” skincare content to the first-ever makeup patches built for instant transformation. The celebrity spark: how a Taylor Swift moment turned into +3,500% traffic and sales and seven figures in 48 hours. Momentum mechanics: why being ops-ready (inventory, warehouse, Amazon) meant riding the wave instead of selling out. Social that sticks: the satisfaction of peel-and-reveal, before/afters, and why repeating winning formats beats chasing trends. Proof over pitch decks: < $200K raised (accelerator + friends/family), 30× revenue in a year, and profitability built on traction. Media + retail wins: @aliettbutts’ 8.9M-view TikTok, Peacock’s “Swift Effect” feature, and new doors at CVS Walmart, and Target. ✨ Takeaways: A simple, filmable ritual (press, pat, peel) is a growth engine when paired with operations that can scale. Moments become moats when you ID the product publicly and meet demand quickly. Retention over reach: give fans a look they can wear into community and they’ll do the distribution for you. Today’s fundraising rewards receipts—ship, learn, and show results before you raise.   🔗 Links & Mentions: Join the waitlist for the Cult Brand Accelerator Explore Casa Noon + early merch via TYB: tyb.xyz Work with Andi + Oui, We Studio: ouiwestudio.com Join the OOO Club for monthly challenges + community Follow Fazit Beauty on Instagram

Get on the waitlist for Cult Brand Accelerator Come to our NYC Casa Noon Brand Preview Event Andi chats with Emily McDonald, founder of The Stylist LA and mentor to female founders, for a real conversation on the highs, lows, and pivots that come with entrepreneurship. Emily takes us back to her first company, a pre–Rent the Runway dress rental business she started out of her living room with a single rolling rack. From scaling to showrooms in LA and San Francisco, raising over a million in venture capital, and dressing Bachelor Nation, Emily shares the bts truth of what it actually takes to build, scale, and reinvent. You’ll hear: Emily’s founding story — how she turned a scrappy sorority strategy into a seven-figure business. The burnout moment that forced her to realize her business had to serve her life (not the other way around). The myths about six- and seven-figure businesses that need busting. Why transparency around money matters, and how Emily uses her monthly revenue reports to lead by example. The tactical foundations she teaches founders stuck at the 5K plateau. Fundraising truths: 150 investor nos, the pep talks founders need, and when to know you’re actually ready to raise. Why in-person connection is making a comeback and how Emily is leveraging retreats and live events to grow deeper community. ✨ Takeaways: Entrepreneurship is the ultimate personal growth journey — and it’s not always easy. Hitting big revenue months doesn’t mean you’ve “made it.” Sustainability is built, not guaranteed. You can separate your worth from your company’s numbers — your business is an entity, not your identity. Community and transparency are essential, especially for female founders navigating the unseen parts of business. Investing in mentorship and getting into the right rooms accelerates your growth far faster than going it alone. 🎧 Listen now to hear Emily’s full story, including the hacks, heartbreaks, and hard-won wisdom she’s passing on to the next generation of founders. Follow Emily on Instagram: @founderemily

From storytelling that feels lived-in (not polished) to founder POV diaries, retention over reach, cultural commentary in marketing, IRL brand house parties, and legacy thinking—this is the ultimate quick-hit list of the habits and strategies fueling today’s most magnetic founders. But before diving in, Andi shares some exciting updates: The Unschool was just named by the Female Founder Collective as one of the top podcasts for entrepreneurs ready to uplevel—alongside How I Built This, Second Life, Superwoman, Side Hustle Pro, and more. Their words? “This pod challenges business norms and champions creative freedom. It’s ideal for founders who reject the status quo and want to build differently.” A behind-the-scenes look at Casa Noon—Andi’s three-years-in-the-making beauty brand—now officially in production after dermatologist testing and packaging approvals. She shares what it’s like raising investment before launch and how the Dream Ventures Accelerator has unlocked powerful connections and opportunities. What’s next at Oui, We Studio: the two-year run of the Smart Girls Mastermind is wrapping, and a brand new Cult Brand Accelerator is launching this fall. This six-week sprint will help founders build obsession-worthy, community-driven brands and head into 2026 with a clear plan. ✨Takeaways from this episode: Community flywheels > sales funnels. Retention matters more than reach. Founder POV content is your most magnetic diary. Subcultures shape the mainstream—spot where you belong. Every drop needs a “why now.” Legacy > this month’s revenue. 🎧 Tune in for the full 25 obsessions—and pick a few to make your own. 🔗 Links & Mentions: Join the waitlist for the Cult Brand Accelerator (Fall 2025), details coming soon Explore Casa Noon updates + early merch via TYB: tyb.xyz Work with Andi + Oui, We Studio: ouiwestudio.com Join the OOO Club for monthly challenges + community

🎟 Sign up for Pitch, Please — it’s free! Learn to pitch with clarity and build the brand deals you actually want. Workshop Takeaways: → How to write pitches that actually get replies → The content that lands brand deals (without sounding like everyone else) → How to use AI to simplify, scale, and stay consistent → For founders and creatives ready for visibility, income, and way more time OOO In this solo episode, Andi is breaking down the state of content in 2025 — from PR chaos to the pressure to go viral — and asking: is this really the way we want to build cult brands? She gets honest about what it’s like to grow a second business during a time when your feed is one long scroll of attention bait, beauty launches, and memeified disasters and what it means to show up with care, vision, and actual meaning. Andi shares: → A no-filter update on the Casa Noon pre-launch (what’s really going on behind the scenes!) → Why she’s calling out orchestrated chaos in brand marketing (and that Sidney Sweeney moment) → The rise of whiplash content and the collapse of meaning in our feeds → Her go-to framework for standing out without manufacturing drama: the 3S Hook Framework → Why cult brands are built from micro moments, not one big message → How good attention (the sticky, emotional kind) builds real community, and bad attention doesn’t convert 👀 Want to go deeper? Join us inside Oui, We Studio’s Out of Office Club for monthly challenges, brand breakthroughs, and support from fellow kind, caring creatives. 🔗 Links & Mentions: 🎯 Sign up for Pitch, Please: Out of Office, Into Income 🌞 Follow Casa Noon on Instagram 💌 Join Out of Office Club 🛠️ Get your co-CEO strategy tools at Oui We Studio

🎟 Sign up for Pitch, Please — it’s free! This is your invitation to own your seat at the table and build the creative career you actually want. ✨ Workshop Takeaways: → How to write pitches that actually get replies → The content that lands brand deals (without sounding like everyone else) → How to use AI to simplify, scale, and stay consistent → For creators who want dreamy brand partnerships and way more time OOO In this episode, Andi is pulling back the curtain on the evolution of her entrepreneurial journey — from accidental fashion incubator founder at 32, to hitting 100k followers at 40, to making her first million at 43, and now raising investment for her beauty brand Casa Noon at 45. If you’ve ever thought you’re too late to grow online, this one’s for you. Andi shares: A behind-the-scenes update on Casa Noon — final packaging signed, product ready, and exclusive community events coming to LA, NYC, NOLA, and Miami. The late bloomer advantage and why your 30s and 40s might be the best time to build something magnetic. Her no-gatekeeping framework for creating content that converts: from your “why,” to your dream BFFs, to pitching with clarity and confidence. A candid breakdown of what she got wrong in her first business (hello, undercharging and cold pitches that didn’t land) — and how she changed her approach. Why pitching is a weekly ritual — not a last-ditch move — and how she landed a $5K brand sponsorship with Flodesk by leading with value. 👀 Want to go deeper? Join us inside Oui, We Studio’s Out of Office Club for monthly challenges, marketing breakthroughs, and community support from fellow no-gatekeeping smart girls. 🔗 Links & Mentions: Sign up for Pitch, Please: Out of Office, Into Income Follow Casa Noon on Instagram — and get on the list for live events Join Out of Office Club Get your co-CEO strategy tools at Oui We Studio

In this truth-telling solo episode Andi opens with a raw reflection on the current climate — both global and personal — as she navigates building a business with empathy during heavy times. From canceled summer plans in LA to climate devastation in Texas, this episode speaks to the entrepreneur who’s feeling everything deeply and still wants to show up with purpose. Andi shares: A grounded take on what it means to lead when the world feels like it’s unraveling — and why your work still matters. 3 unsexy but essential business foundations every cult brand needs: Why hiring a bookkeeper early is a power move (even before you feel “ready”) The IP protections most founders wait too long to secure The digital asset checklist that protects your brand’s future value Real talk on trademark drama: From Smart Girls Mastermind to Out of Office Club and Obsession-Worthy, Andi breaks down what she learned the hard way — and how you can avoid the same IP mistakes. Money mindset shifts and business bank account wisdom for founders ready to take themselves seriously. A soul-led guide to selling during heavy times — with practical strategies that feel good, not gross. Takeaways: + Cult brands don’t wing the backend. They set it up like it matters — because it does. + Trademarks aren’t optional when your words start moving culture. + Your audience doesn’t need perfection — they need presence. + Selling with softness is still selling. Lead with empathy, not urgency. + The best time to protect your work was yesterday. The next best time? Today. 🎁 Want to go deeper? Join the free Content to Conversion workshop — July 14–16, co-hosted with Flodesk. Get the full blueprint for building a brand that moves from invisible to influential. 🔗 Links & Mentions: 💻 Register for the Content to Conversion Workshop Join OOO Club

This week, Andi’s catching you up on everything — from why she ghosted her own show (😅) to what’s next for Casa Noon, and the 8 cult brand behaviors redefining how to build an obsession-worthy business right now. After hosting her viral Cult Brand Blueprint training (over 1,000 of you signed up 👀), she’s reflecting on what’s working right now — and how you can use these insights to build something magnetic, memorable, and made to last. Andi shares: Why she paused the pod to run the Cult Brand Blueprint training — and the secret replay link she’s dropping just for you. A peek into her final round of Obsession-Worthy Mastermind before pivoting fully into Casa Noon. Behind the scenes of a beauty retreat in New Orleans, a VIP strategy day with a visionary client, and investor convos while traveling. The 8 cult brand behaviors you need to know now: Radical honesty is the new authenticity Community > followers (but community creates followers) Nostalgia is a conversion strategy (hello, Labubu & Jellycat) Personal branding is leadership AI is your co-founder now Founders with visibility > hustle culture burnout Micro-influencers are the new ROI kings and queens Smart girl brands share generously (transparency = loyalty) This one’s packed. A must-listen if you're ready to lead with vision, show up with heart, and build a brand that doesn’t need to shout to be heard. Takeaways: The future is lo-fi, human-first, and deeply magnetic. Your personal brand is a growth engine — treat it like IP. Sustainable visibility matters more than ever. If you're not building community, you're building in silence. 🔗 Links & Mentions: Replay the Cult Brand Blueprint training (secret link in the show notes) Join the Obsession-Worthy Mastermind (last call) Come hang in the Out of Office Club Get the Co-CEO GPT

Register for Cult Brand Blueprint, taking place on 5/27! In this episode Andi pulls back the curtain on the five strategies cult-status brands are using to stay magnetic, memorable, and wildly obsession-worthy — no matter their size or niche. She shares a powerful behind-the-scenes update on building Casa Noon (and what it’s really like stepping into product development, investor pitching, and scaling from the ground up), plus a serious truth she’s learned after a decade helping founders, creatives, and CEOs build brands people can’t stop talking about: You don’t get there alone — you get there by being in the right rooms, with the right people, doing the right work. Inside the episode, you’ll hear: — How Andi went from helping indie entrepreneurs and creators behind the scenes to stepping into her own high-growth brand era with Casa Noon — The real story behind landing a $35K Google project and a decade-long literary agent relationship (hint: it wasn’t cold pitching) — Why now is the last chance to join Obsession-Worthy: The Smart Girls Mastermind before Casa Noon’s launch pulls Andi’s focus — The five branding moves cult-status brands are making right now — and how you can use them: Andi also unpacks how to build emotional stickiness, cultivate resonance, and shift out of algorithm-chasing, with a personal permission slip to slow down and go deeper into the details that truly matter. Takeaways: This episode is for the founder, creator, or service provider ready to: • Build a magnetic brand that resonates, not just reaches • Stop chasing trends and start creating for real people • Step into CEO-level rooms that stretch and expand your vision • Understand the branding shifts driving connection and conversion in 2025 Links + Mentions: — Apply for Obsession-Worthy: The Smart Girls Mastermind → APPLICATION  https://www.ouiwestudio.com/mastermind — Join Smart Girl Summer Camp in Venice Beach, July 11–13 (only $148 deposit!) — Sign up for the Cult Brand Blueprint live workshop  Coming up next: Andi’s dropping a bonus episode midweek on emotional resonance and sticky brand strategies you can apply right away — don’t miss it! Make sure to subscribe, share this episode with a friend, and leave a review if you love what you’re hearing.

In this walk-and-talk style solo episode (literally), we’re diving into the real behind-the-scenes of building a beauty brand and running a strategy house at the same time. You’ll hear what it actually looks like to show up in the messy middle — pitching investors for the first time, navigating unfamiliar beauty standards, and learning the difference between stability testing and (what Andi lovingly calls) mold stuff. It’s giving: radical transparency meets cult brand strategy. This one is your weekly brand clarity download — the truth behind what makes an obsession-worthy brand today. Andi shares: The difference between inspired action and confrontational action — and why you don’t need to wait for perfect clarity to begin What she’s learning in real time while building Casa Noon (ingredient sourcing, packaging, compliance, fundraising, and more) How to curate your brand like a magazine — and why it works better than chasing viral trends The 5 major patterns from the online zeitgeist around cult branding: Content prompts for this week: founder-led storytelling, weekend life reels, identity-based carousels, and ‘this feels like a private club’ vibes 💡 Takeaways: This season is about stepping into the unknown and showing up anyway — with systems, flow, and a POV that sticks. The brands that win aren’t the ones that perform best… they’re the ones that resonate most. Tools & Mentions: The Co-CEO GPT Toolkit: Your creative director + AI assistant in one. Caption starters, visual planning, Human Design alignment, and more. Free Visual Style Masterclass Take the Brand Archetype Quiz RSVP to the Cult Brand Blueprint Workshop – May 27th Smart Girls Summer Camp in Venice, CA: July 11–13. ✨ IRL content creation, strategy circles, cold plunges + the ultimate biz bestie reset. DM @ouiwegirl to grab a spot before prices go up. 📲 DM Andi on Instagram @ouiwegirl to chat about the Smart Girls Mastermind opening at the end of this month — doors are about to open.  Want to go deeper? Get in the room with us this summer — online and in real life.

Discover how to recalibrate your business without starting from scratch. Andi breaks down her recent speaking experiences and what they reveal about the future of entrepreneurship. She shares essential steps for founders, including auditing revenue flows and realigning strategies with personal 'whys'. The 7 Day CEO Reset Challenge is introduced, offering daily prompts for clarity and focused action. It’s a transformative opportunity for entrepreneurs eager to gain momentum and make meaningful changes in their businesses.