Our guest today is Sophia Amoruso, founder of the first internet native fashion brand, Nasty Gal. Since growing Nasty Gal to global prominence and then taking it through a sudden bankruptcy sale, she’s subsequently founded three other businesses including Trust Fund, her VC firm. Sophia coined the term #Girlboss, which is the name of her second business, a Netflix show based on her life, and the title of her memoir which spent 18 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list.I admire Sophia for her courage and action in the face of fear. Fear of failure and fear of not looking good can be overwhelming to the point of paralysis (certainly I am governed by these fears) but today we'll get into how Sophia has achieved a buoyancy to rise above them.Good brands transcend the reality of the businesses they represent, and in this show, she talks about what it's like for her personal brand to decouple from her lived experience - to the extent of taking a company through bankruptcy just as a Netflix series debuted about her company's success. Talk about cognitive dissonance.Sophia and I talk about the scrutiny put on female leaders, her recent rumspringa, what she thinks is cool right now in fashion and music, and I ask her to roast my outfit.Enjoy my conversation with Sophia Amoruso, a refreshingly real storyteller and entrepreneur who's dedicated to living on her own terms. Show Links: Sophia’s Instagram Nasty Gal #Girlboss the book Girlboss the TV show Girlboss the company Trust Fund Business Class Piero Umiliani Jackson C Frank - Cover Me in Roses Harley Pasternak’s Oatmeal Pancakes 📸@swhnorton 🐦@swhnorton🖥️www.atlargeshow.com…….This podcast is made available solely for entertainment and educational purposes. The information presented here does not constitute investment, legal, or other professional advice, and should not be construed as an offering of advisory services, or as a solicitation to buy, an offer to sell, or a recommendation of any securities or other financial instruments. The thoughts and opinions expressed by or through this podcast are those of the individual guests and speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of any investment advisor. The discussion on this podcast of any entity, product or service does not imply an endorsement thereof, and the guests may have a financial interest, whether through investment or otherwise, in one or more of any such entities, products or services. Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a 5 star rating on your podcast app and comment below.

Today's guest is director Daniel Goldhaber, who blends high-tension genre films with piercing social commentary. His 2018 debut feature, Cam, a provocative, psychological thriller about a camgirl's stolen identity marked him as a director unafraid to dig deep into the darker recesses of contemporary culture. Cam captivated audiences with an unexpectedly feminist perspective using a technique Goldhaber calls "sensory ethnography," while putting forth a vision of how horror can reflect the anxieties of our digital age.But if Cam was Goldhaber's statement of intent, his 2022 feature How to Blow Up A Pipeline solidified his place as a filmmaker with something to say. Boldly political yet tightly constructed, Pipeline is further proof that Goldhaber is mastering the art of genre with a conscience, a rarity in the landscape of popular cinema often content with spectacle over substance.Daniel's films and Daniel's life explore the tension between capitalism and activism, between creativity and the imperative of commerce. In this conversation, you'll hear the best parts about his film education at Harvard, how he crashed a party at Cannes to get his movie financed, and how a weekend raving in Berlin changed the course of his life forever. He gives us hot takes on how the film industry is unexpectedly changing, and on the ethical rationale of controversial climate activism.Call him a raconteur, a provocateur, but just don't call him an auteur - either way I have a feeling that Daniel's career as a filmmaker is just getting started. So whether you're listening to this conversation in 2024 or doing retrospective research in 2034, please enjoy my conversation with Daniel Goldhaber.Show Links:Cam (Film)How to Blow up a PipelineDaniel Goldhaber’s InstagramIssa MazzeiAnoraAuteur TheorySean BakerTangerine film Alex Hughes - Spacemaker ProductionsGolden Gate Nightclub - BerlinLongmont Potion CastleOmniprongHam on Rye - Tyler Taormina 📸@swhnorton 🐦@swhnorton🖥️www.atlargeshow.com…….This podcast is made available solely for entertainment and educational purposes. The information presented here does not constitute investment, legal, or other professional advice, and should not be construed as an offering of advisory services, or as a solicitation to buy, an offer to sell, or a recommendation of any securities or other financial instruments. The thoughts and opinions expressed by or through this podcast are those of the individual guests and speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of any investment advisor. The discussion on this podcast of any entity, product or service does not imply an endorsement thereof, and the guests may have a financial interest, whether through investment or otherwise, in one or more of any such entities, products or services. Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a 5 star rating on your podcast app and comment below.

Dinara Kasko is a study in contrasts.The precision of an architect, with the soul of an artist. A playful crafter of haute patisserie, with the grit to escape a Russian invasion. The poise and perfection of a pastry chef, with the daring to dance for days in the dusty desert of Burning Man.There are pastry chefs, and then there’s Dinara Kasko—a woman who doesn’t just bake cakes but sculpts them, bending mousse and ganache into hypnotic geometric forms that feel more at home in an art gallery than a bakery display. She's been named one of the top entrepreneurial creatives on the 50 Best Restaurants list, with her creations served in patisseries from Qatar to California.But Kasko’s journey has been anything but conventional. Originally trained as an architect, she seamlessly translated her understanding of form and structure into the ephemeral beauty of pastry, creating silicone molds that turn cakes into intricate, almost otherworldly designs. They are mesmerizing in their complexity, precision, and – as she discovered 10 years ago – are perfectly instagrammable. Social media became her stage, and like any artist navigating the pleasures and sorrows of algorithm-induced fame, she has embraced both the opportunities and the challenges of a livelihood and a life lived largely online.Like many other guests of At Large, Dinara has made a living out of her exceptional creative abilities. However, unlike anyone else we've talked to, Dinara hails from Kharkiv, a region in Eastern Ukraine invaded by Russia in 2022, which remains under attack to this day. That year, she was forced to flee her beloved home city, leaving her pastry studio behind. She sought the refuge of a better life in Southern California with her young family of four. Here in America, she continues to build her business, refine her craft, and explore new outlets for expression and emotion at dance music festivals.On At Large, Kasko shares her remarkable journey of resilience, reinvention, and creativity in exile—along with a recipe for kefir pancakes that, like the chef herself, is equal parts tradition and transformation.Show Links: Dinara’s Instagram Dinara’s Pastry Molds Ottolenghi and the Cakes of Versailles  Dream State Burning Man Chris Luni (DJ)  Kefir Pancakes 📸@swhnorton 🐦@swhnorton🖥️www.atlargeshow.com…….This podcast is made available solely for entertainment and educational purposes. The information presented here does not constitute investment, legal, or other professional advice, and should not be construed as an offering of advisory services, or as a solicitation to buy, an offer to sell, or a recommendation of any securities or other financial instruments. The thoughts and opinions expressed by or through this podcast are those of the individual guests and speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of any investment advisor. The discussion on this podcast of any entity, product or service does not imply an endorsement thereof, and the guests may have a financial interest, whether through investment or otherwise, in one or more of any such entities, products or services. Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a 5 star rating on your podcast app and comment below.

Henry Ford famously said, "If I had asked my customers what they wanted, they would have said a faster horse." When sweetgreen was founded in 2007, nobody was asking for a chain of fast casual salad restaurants. But sweetgreen reframes the question - how do you make healthy food convenient and cool?My guest today is Nicolas Jammet, one of the three co-founders of sweetgreen, and the one most responsible for its food. Sweetgreen is one of the great brands built by our generation that's found itself woven into the fabric of cosmopolitan culture. Seventeen years after opening its first location, sweetgreen now operates over 250 restaurants and, as of this recording, is valued at nearly $5 billion as a public company.I have known Nic for over 10 years, and sweetgreen has been a fantastic partner to Sir Kensington's, having used a number of our condiments over the years including our mayonnaise in the dressing of their famous Kale Caesar.In this conversation, we'll talk about what it takes to stick together as a trio of co-founders through thick and thin, the value of leadership coaching, how he approaches culinary innovation without alienating their audience, and how automation surprisingly helps hospitality rather than hinders it.Special thanks to Andrea Hernandez of Snaxshot whose readers submitted questions for Nic to answer in this interview.Please enjoy my conversation with the sultan of salad, Nicolas Jammet. —Special Announcement - LA Wildfires:We recorded this conversation in December of last year. However, as of this writing, disastrous wildfires in Los Angeles have displaced over 10,000 people and taken 25 lives over the past two weeks. Los Angeles is where I live along with many of our guests, and where we record the show. While the fires are now largely contained, it's been a traumatic moment. If you've suffered as a result of these fires, I have all the faith in your resilience a - even in the face of uncertainty. If you've in any way been part of the relief effort, on behalf of everyone whose lives have been derailed - I give you my genuine thanks, including to Nic, our guest on today’s show. As an LA-based company, Sweetgreen has been focusing the past two weeks on supporting its community and providing meals for firefighters, first responders and displaced families. To support Los Angeles wildfire relief efforts as a volunteer or donor visit:: https://lacity.gov/LAstrong                              —Website Show Notes: La Caravelle  Keith Miller Row 7 Seeds Dan Barber The Third Plate Snaxshot by Andrea Hernandez  The Anxious Generation Jen Stark  Austyn Weiner Leong Leong Architecture Support Los Angeles wildfire relief efforts: https://lacity.gov/LAstrong                              📸@swhnorton 🐦@swhnorton🖥️www.atlargeshow.com…….This podcast is made available solely for entertainment and educational purposes. The information presented here does not constitute investment, legal, or other professional advice, and should not be construed as an offering of advisory services, or as a solicitation to buy, an offer to sell, or a recommendation of any securities or other financial instruments. The thoughts and opinions expressed by or through this podcast are those of the individual guests and speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of any investment advisor. The discussion on this podcast of any entity, product or service does not imply an endorsement thereof, and the guests may have a financial interest, whether through investment or otherwise, in one or more of any such entities, products or services. Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a 5 star rating on your podcast app and comment below.

Mike Tyson said, “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” That's how I feel every time I try to write something. You don't really realize how hard writing is until you actually sit down and do it. If it’s any consolation, just remember the copywriting law of physics from this episode’s guest: If a problem exists, so does the solution.Thomas Kemeny has made a career writing for advertising, one of the most challenging written mediums. You need the copy to sell, but it can't be salesy. It's gotta make people smile, but you can't come off as trying to be funny. The shorter the better, but make sure to pack in all the features and benefits. Got it?For people who have practiced this all their life, like Thomas, writing for advertising is an art, a science, and a business. And for the rest of us to learn, Thomas wrote one of the very few books on how to write advertising copy. The book is called Junior, and today we'll talk about many of the lessons he shares in this book.In this episode, Thomas will take us through copywriting exercises to generate headlines using the shortcuts and “dirty tricks” the industry has used for decades. He talks about how his creative process involves tricking your brain into never thinking it’s done, so that you can push from the logical and into the nonsensical before arriving at an unexpected solution. Best of all, Thomas reveals what he calls “the secret rule for great work” which no company will ever actually abide by.Enjoy the show, enjoy his book, and enjoy making Hungarian chicken paprikash. —Website Show Notes: Junior: Writing Your Way Ahead in Advertising Hey Whipple, Squeeze This Oscar Health campaign Sir Kensington’s Fries of New York Hungarian chicken paprikash 📸@swhnorton 🐦@swhnorton🖥️www.atlargeshow.com…….This podcast is made available solely for entertainment and educational purposes. The information presented here does not constitute investment, legal, or other professional advice, and should not be construed as an offering of advisory services, or as a solicitation to buy, an offer to sell, or a recommendation of any securities or other financial instruments. The thoughts and opinions expressed by or through this podcast are those of the individual guests and speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of any investment advisor. The discussion on this podcast of any entity, product or service does not imply an endorsement thereof, and the guests may have a financial interest, whether through investment or otherwise, in one or more of any such entities, products or services. Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a 5 star rating on your podcast app and comment below.

My guest today is Clare Vivier: celebrated fashion designer and entrepreneur known for her eponymous brand, Clare V. Over 16 years in business, she has quietly, yet undeniably, reshaped the landscape of accessories.The French-inflected simplicity of her designs—leather handbags adorned with bold stripes, understated totes that whisper rather than shout—echo her essence: practical and deliberate, with an artist’s cool. Vivier has managed to bottle up California ease and Parisian sophistication, infusing it into a brand that feels both timeless and strikingly now.Born and raised in the Midwest, Vivier's path to the fashion world was anything but linear. A former journalist, she honed her style sensibilities while living in France, where she noticed a glaring gap in the accessories market: bags that married utility with understated luxury. Armed with curiosity, entrepreneurial spirit, and a sewing machine purchased with found money, she taught herself the art of leather working to make a laptop bag that she herself would want to carry.What began as a modest operation soon blossomed into Clare V., a brand that has come to define West Coast chic. From its early cult following in indie boutiques to its current status as a staple among tastemakers, Clare V. has grown into a quietly powerful force in the fashion industry, without compromising integrity or its signature style. Her pieces, whether carried by Hollywood A-listers or creative professionals on the go, feel both egalitarian and aspirational, a reflection of the woman behind the brand.Yet for Vivier, success is as much about community as it is about commerce. With stores across the country—each one a carefully curated love letter to its neighborhood—and a commitment to ethical production practices, she has proven that achieving scale doesn't require sacrificing the values that guide you in the early days.Without further adieu, please enjoy my conversation with Clare.                           —Website Show Notes: Clare V Instagram La Vie de Clare V. Wabi-sabi The Cult of Clare V Sample Sales The Hidden Staircases of Los Angeles Vélib' Métropole All Fours: A Novel Alice Neel Jules et Jim Crispy Smashed Potatoes and Chimichurri  📸@swhnorton 🐦@swhnorton🖥️www.atlargeshow.com…….This podcast is made available solely for entertainment and educational purposes. The information presented here does not constitute investment, legal, or other professional advice, and should not be construed as an offering of advisory services, or as a solicitation to buy, an offer to sell, or a recommendation of any securities or other financial instruments. The thoughts and opinions expressed by or through this podcast are those of the individual guests and speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of any investment advisor. The discussion on this podcast of any entity, product or service does not imply an endorsement thereof, and the guests may have a financial interest, whether through investment or otherwise, in one or more of any such entities, products or services. Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a 5 star rating on your audio platform and comment below your favorite part of the episode. See you next week!

Alex Bogusky, a pioneering advertising creative director known for his work at Crispin Porter + Bogusky, transformed the industry with campaigns like Mini Cooper and the Truth anti-smoking ads. He shares thrilling insights into the creative process behind groundbreaking projects, including the iconic Subservient Chicken campaign. Alex also reflects on his spiritual journey of healing after loss, discussing alternative methods like ayahuasca and the importance of love and self-awareness in personal and professional life.

My guest today is Alexis Gay. While on the rise in her career in tech, Alexis took to the internet to lampoon her own industry as her social alter ego, @yayalexisgay. With razor sharp comedic instincts and magnetic screen presence, she pokes fun at the absurdity of a new professional class that’s trying to put a dent in the universe while navigating petty personal problems. After 25 million video views, countless industry conference keynotes, and over a hundred episodes of her podcast Non-Technical, Alexis has left her desk job and incessant slack notifications behind. She’s now started a new chapter as an entertainer, trading annual performance reviews for nightly standing ovations.After debuting her one woman show Unprofessional at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland, she’s taking it on an eight city tour across the United States. We sat down a day before her performance in Los Angeles to talk about her travels in the creator economy and her craft of self-parody.Please enjoy my conversation with the consummate unprofessional professional, Alexis Gay. Show Notes:Alexis Gay Website Alexis Gay Instagram “Unprofessional” tour dates and tickets The War of Art Book The Body Keeps the Score book Box Breathing Cat CohenAlex Edelman The Artist’s Way📸@swhnorton 🐦@swhnorton🖥️www.atlargeshow.com…….This podcast is made available solely for entertainment and educational purposes. The information presented here does not constitute investment, legal, or other professional advice, and should not be construed as an offering of advisory services, or as a solicitation to buy, an offer to sell, or a recommendation of any securities or other financial instruments. The thoughts and opinions expressed by or through this podcast are those of the individual guests and speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of any investment advisor. The discussion on this podcast of any entity, product or service does not imply an endorsement thereof, and the guests may have a financial interest, whether through investment or otherwise, in one or more of any such entities, products or services. Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a 5 star rating on your audio platform and comment below your favorite part of the episode. See you next week!

Years ago, I made a pilgrimage up the Hudson river to visit a guru. Conscientious, soft spoken, and sporting a shiny bald head, he had the profile of a wiseman in eastern philosophy. But in fact, he was a guru in the secular (yet mystical) philosophy of marketing.Towards the end of our meeting, as I asked for advice on growing our startup Sir Kensington’s, he wrote a note on a piece of torn paper and slipped it across the table. I picked it up and read it: “People Like Us Do Things Like This.” Huh? My guest today is Seth Godin, whose work I've followed for nearly 20 years, and has informed both the businesses I've built and how I evaluate companies for investment.Seth is the poet laureate of modern marketing. His genius lies in his ability to distill complex ideas into clear, actionable insights that resonate in today's attention-scarce world. And in a world addicted to shortcuts and quick wins, Godin’s message is refreshingly real and profoundly human: great work takes guts, vision, and the courage to stand out. As Seth says, "safe is risky."Today we'll talk about his greatest hits -- though we took this occasion to talk about his brand new book, "This is Strategy" which he simplifies strategy into what he calls "a philosophy of becoming."In Seth's world, marketing isn't just about selling - it's about making a difference. So if you want to build something consequential, queue up Seth's books on your kindle and please enjoy my conversation with Mr. Seth Godin.Website Show Notes: First, ten blog post https://seths.blog/2009/04/first-ten/ The Purple Cow https://www.amazon.com/Purple-Cow-Transform-Business-Remarkable/dp/014101640X Tribes https://www.amazon.com/Tribes-We-Need-You-Lead/dp/1491514736 This is Marketing https://www.amazon.com/This-Marketing-Cant-Until-Learn/dp/0525540830/ This is Strategy https://www.amazon.com/This-Strategy-Better-Elevate-Community-ebook/dp/B0CXWV8G29/ The Carbon Almanac https://thecarbonalmanac.org/ Askinosie Chocolate https://askinosie.com/ Dürer's Rhinoceros https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%BCrer%27s_Rhinoceros Your business card is crap https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YBxeDN4tbk Seth’s dosa recipe https://seths.blog/modern-dosa-cookbook/ 📸@swhnorton 🐦@swhnorton🖥️www.atlargeshow.com…….This podcast is made available solely for entertainment and educational purposes. The information presented here does not constitute investment, legal, or other professional advice, and should not be construed as an offering of advisory services, or as a solicitation to buy, an offer to sell, or a recommendation of any securities or other financial instruments. The thoughts and opinions expressed by or through this podcast are those of the individual guests and speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of any investment advisor. The discussion on this podcast of any entity, product or service does not imply an endorsement thereof, and the guests may have a financial interest, whether through investment or otherwise, in one or more of any such entities, products or services. Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a 5 star rating on your audio platform and comment below your favorite part of the episode. See you next week!

Sometimes you’ll meet someone, and halfway through the conversation it dawns on you: This person is different. This is a person doing their life’s work. Nicholas Coleman is undeniably one of those people. And with eloquence to match his passion, the more he shares the more interesting he becomes.Nick is one of the world’s foremost experts on olive oil. He is an educator, speaker, and co-founder of Grove and Vine, a full service bespoke olive oil merchant and producer. Nick chases the harvest annually through the northern and southern hemispheres to deliver a curated selection of the freshest extra virgin olive oils to both home cooks and Michelin starred restaurants.Nick was the chief oleologist at Eataly for seven years, a position they created for him and has judged countless olive oil competitions around the globe. He is a lifelong musician and bassist alongside Action Bronson in their band, Dr. Bachlava and Human Growth Hormone.In this interview, Nick will teach us how to properly select and taste olive oil, how to squeeze two days into every one, what it’s like to collaborate with Action both with oil and music, and the secret to landing your dream job.Prepare to learn everything you’ve ever wanted to know about olive oil and the business surrounding it, and enjoy my conversation with oleologist Nicholas Coleman.Want to try Nick’s oil? Listeners can use the code "atlarge" at https://groveandvine.com/ for $20 off a Grove and Vine membership.Recorded at studio and community space 57 NYC.Show Notes: Grove & Vine https://groveandvine.com/ Grove & Vine Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1vsz8letvc Eataly https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eataly Action Bronson https://www.instagram.com/bambambaklava/?hl=en Dr. Bachlava and Human Growth Hormone - Tiny Desk Concert https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUN8pdgA0m8 Ribollita Recipe https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016052-ribollita Nick’s Instagram @oleologist https://www.instagram.com/oleologist/?hl=en 📸@swhnorton 🐦@swhnorton🖥️www.atlargeshow.com…….This podcast is made available solely for entertainment and educational purposes. The information presented here does not constitute investment, legal, or other professional advice, and should not be construed as an offering of advisory services, or as a solicitation to buy, an offer to sell, or a recommendation of any securities or other financial instruments. The thoughts and opinions expressed by or through this podcast are those of the individual guests and speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of any investment advisor. The discussion on this podcast of any entity, product or service does not imply an endorsement thereof, and the guests may have a financial interest, whether through investment or otherwise, in one or more of any such entities, products or services. Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a 5 star rating on your audio platform and comment below your favorite part of the episode. See you next week!