Join Sujean in the studio for a conversation with Karla Smith-Brown, a floral artist celebrated for stunning and sustainable arrangements.

Karla is the founder of OLIVEE Floral, a Brooklyn-based design studio grounded in seasonality and the wild beauty of nature. Her clients include Vogue, GQ, Google, Dior, and Sotheby’s, among many others. OLIVEE also holds a floral residency at the acclaimed restaurant Tatiana by Kwame Onwuachi at Lincoln Center. Karla draws inspiration from her Jamaican roots and the lush landscape of Saint Elizabeth Parish; her studio is named after her great-grandmother, Medorah Olivee Wright.

In search of greater purpose, Karla left a career in PR and communications to pursue her true passion, discovering flowers as her medium for storytelling, connection, and joy.

In this episode of Alchemy Social, Karla and Sujean chat about:

• How burnout let Karla to reimagine her career, and build OLIVEE Floral from the ground up;
• The art and science of floral arrangements, and why flowers are the ultimate natural mood booster; 
• The challenges of balancing growth, freedom, and sustainability as a creative entrepreneur;
• What it’s like to collaborate with luxury brands and celebrity tastemakers to create immersive experiences; and
• Practical tips to transform your space (and your mood) with flowers.

Whether you’re an aspiring creative, in search of a more intentional life, or simply curious about elevating your physical space, this episode will leave you inspired.

Follow Karla and OLIVEE Floral:

• Karla on Instagram – @kayisforkarla
• OLIVEE on Instagram – @oliveefloral
• oliveefloral.com

Follow Sujean and Alchemy Social:

• Instagram – @sujeansong
• LinkedIn – Sujean
• Subscribe to the Newsletter - Alchemy Social Substack
• Watch the video on YouTube – @sujeansong 

Thanks for being here. I’d love to stay connected, so please subscribe, and share this episode with a friend who gets excited about creative careers.

Yours, Sujean

Join Sujean in the studio for an interview with Pavia Rosati, one of the most trusted voices in travel.

Pavia is the CEO and founder of Fathom, an award-winning travel editorial platform known for insider recommendations and curated itineraries, including a widely read Substack called "Way to Go." She’s co-authored two books: Travel Anywhere (and Avoid Being a Tourist) and Travel North America (and Avoid Being a Tourist). She previously served as Executive Editor of the disruptive media company DailyCandy, which produced a daily email newsletter featuring cultural recommendations.

Ultimately, Pavia has designed an inspiring career - one that brings her joy, is filled with rich, unforgettable experiences (including plenty of dinner parties at home), and leaves room for new adventures.

In this episode of Alchemy Social, Pavia and Sujean chat about:

• How Pavia made the leap from a career in media to founding her own travel company
• How she grew a disruptive newsletter business, long before she started her Substack
• When to ask human experts for advice – from recipes to restaurant recommendations
• How to plan better trips – including the one time overplanning actually pays off; and
• Her latest travel recommendations (you’ll want to bookmark them immediately).

Whether you’re dreaming up your next trip, interested in a career in media, or starting a new company, this conversation will inspire you.

Follow Pavia and Fathom:

• Fathom – fathomaway.com
• Fathom Substack - Way to Go
• Fathom IG - @fathomwaytogo
• Pavia IG - @pavianyc

Follow Sujean and Alchemy Social:

• Instagram – @sujeansong
• YouTube – @sujeansong
• Spotify - Alchemy Social
• Newsletter - Alchemy Social Substack
• LinkedIn – Sujean
• Linktree – linktr.ee/sujeansong

Thanks for being here! I'd love to stay connected, so please subscribe, and share this episode with a friend who loves travel. Yours, Sujean

Evan Frank is the ultimate travel insider and serial entrepreneur.

He’s built not one – but three – disruptive travel companies that have reshaped the way we experience the world. He’s the co-founder of Fora, a technology platform empowering everyday entrepreneurs to become modern travel agents, bringing back the human touch to trip planning. He co-founded onefinestay, the luxury vacation rental brand acquired by Accor for nearly $200M USD. And he served as CEO of Context Travel, known for expert-led cultural experiences around the world.

Evan’s career has been a journey of its own. He started working in finance, until he realized that he wanted to pursue something more meaningful. Today, he has found his calling as a founder leading purpose-driven companies.

In this episode of Alchemy Social, Evan shares:

• How he left finance and designed a more fulfilling career
• What happens behind-the-scenes when bringing a startup idea to life
• Why Fora’s vision of a travel agency is different - and more relevant than ever in the age of AI
• How to turn travel planning into a successful side hustle
• Why human-led travel planning is always better
• And how to create richer, more memorable travel experiences.

Whether you're a frequent traveler, aspiring entrepreneur, or simply craving more memorable adventures, this conversation is for you.

Follow Evan Frank and Fora

- Fora Travel – https://www.foratravel.com

- Evan on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanbfrank/

Follow Sujean

- Instagram – @sujeansong

- YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@sujeansong

- Newsletter – Alchemy Social

- LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sujean/

- Linktree – linktr.ee/sujeansong

Interested in booking your next trip with Sujean?

- Book with Sujean

Thanks for being here! I'd love to stay connected, so please subscribe in the links above. I hope you enjoy the episode - and share it with a friend who loves to travel. Yours, Sujean

What happens when you stop playing it safe - and start betting on yourself?

Celebrity Chef Judy Joo is living her dream: she left behind a safe, well-paying finance career to follow her passion for food. Today, she’s a Korean-American chef and TV personality, a best-selling cookbook author, and the first-ever female Iron Chef UK. She’s also the founder and CEO of Seoul Bird, a global restaurant brand famous for its Korean fried chicken – with locations from Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium to Madison Square Garden. She has become an international ambassador for Korean cuisine, and her latest cookbook, "K-Quick: Korean Food in 30 Minutes or Less," makes it even easier.

Judy’s story might surprise you: she studied engineering at Columbia, and started her career on Wall Street. Her story strikes a personal chord for me, because she left behind a prestigious career path to embrace the unknown - which I'm attempting myself! 

In this episode of Alchemy Social, Judy shares:

• Why she made the pivot from finance to food
• What helped her find the courage to go against convention
• How she’s successfully managed a multifaceted career – from cooking to writing cookbooks to live television and social media
• What is so unique – and addictive - about Korean fried chicken (hint: it's that crunch); and
• How Korean culture obsession has gone global.

Whether you’re thinking about a career pivot, building a personal brand, or just love Korean food and culture, this conversation is for you.

Follow Judy Joo and Seoul Bird:

• Judy on IG - https://www.instagram.com/judyjoo/
• Seoul Bird https://seoul-bird.co.uk
• Judy's latest cookbook: K-Quick

Follow Sujean:

• Instagram - www.instagram.com/sujeansong
• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@sujeansong
• Newsletter - https://sujeansong.substack.com/subscribe
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sujean/
• Linktree - https://linktr.ee/sujeansong

Thanks for being here. I hope you enjoy this conversation, and I'd love to stay connected, so please subscribe in the links above. Yours, Sujean

What if your cult-favorite fashion tote were also a force for good?

That’s exactly what Lauren Bush Lauren set out to do when she launched FEED in 2007 - and it’s worked. Through the sale of style staples like everyday totes and travel pouches, the fashion brand has delivered more than 126 million meals to children in need around the world. And her commitment to the mission hasn't wavered.

As the CEO and founder of FEED, a mother of three, fashion designer and model, and member of American political royalty (she’s the granddaughter of former POTUS George H.W. Bush and daughter-in-law of Ralph Lauren), Lauren is proof that style and substance can go hand in hand. FEED is now a certified B Corp and remains committed to sustainability. Beyond its iconic totes, FEED has also collaborated with brands like Ralph Lauren, Minnow, and Amber Waves Farm, and brought to life in-person experiences like FEED Suppers - one of which I was lucky enough to co-host with Lauren nearly a decade ago.

In this episode of Alchemy Social, Lauren explains:

• How traveling with the UN World Food Program sparked the idea for FEED
• Why tangible products are powerful vehicles for impact
• What it was like launching a mission-driven company before “social entrepreneurship” was mainstream
• How being a mom has reshaped her perspective, and
• The secret to staying authentic in a trend-driven world.

Whether you’re building a brand, interested in fashion, or seeking a career that aligns with your values, this episode is for you.

Follow Lauren and FEED:

• Lauren on IG - http://bit.ly/4lThiwk

• FEED on IG - http://bit.ly/4lQrXbu

• FEED website - http://bit.ly/3TUeJy4

Follow Sujean:

• IG - https://www.instagram.com/sujeansong

• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@sujeansong?sub_confirmation=1

• Newsletter - https://sujeansong.substack.com/subscribe

• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sujean/

• https://linktr.ee/sujeansong

Thanks for listening - and I'd love to stay connected so please subscribe! Yours, Sujean

What if a restaurant could change the way you experience food - without ever giving you a menu?

That’s exactly what David Barber and his brother, renowned chef Dan Barber, have done at Blue Hill, the preeminent farm-to-table restaurant and working farm that have redefined taste, sustainability, and hospitality. In a world of fast food and faster content, David is betting on something different: an intentional approach to farming and dining where storytelling brings to life the ingredients in every course.

David grew up with the 80-acre family farm located an hour outside New York City. Today, that farm forms the heart of the stunning Blue Hill restaurant, where diners enjoy a multi-sensory meal that often lasts four hours, as well as a location in Manhattan. David is also founding partner at Almanac Insights, a venture fund investing in innovative food and hospitality companies. He recently launched Rhizome, a food research and incubation company that is developing better food ingredients, like tastier eggs - sourced from chickens fed with food waste, rather than conventional grain. 

David explains:

• Why the Blue Hill dining experience is so different
• How deliciousness ranks when designing the Blue Hill meal
• What role the family farm has played in his career and life
• How we can design a new type of immersive experience, not only for dining but also for music and other art forms
• Why he launched Rhizome, his newest venture, and how it fits between Blue Hill (the restaurants) and the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture, which he also co-founded 
• The most underrated food ingredient
• His most recent stand-out travel experience 

Follow David: 

• Instagram - https://bit.ly/46u8et0
• Blue Hill - https://bluehillfarm.com
• Rhizome - https://bit.ly/3IwwXmw

Get Alchemy Social email updates: - https://sujeansong.substack.com

Follow Sujean:

• https://www.youtube.com/@sujeansong
• https://linktr.ee/sujeansong

What if a social media app could fight loneliness and help us find real connection through unforgettable experiences?

Avante Price is the CEO and co-founder of Posh, an events platform that is powering the future of real-life social experiences. The company has already powered more than $200 million in ticket sales. After dropping out of NYU, Avante and his co-founder Eli set out to solve a problem that's all too familiar: feeling more isolated and disconnected than ever in an increasingly digital world. Their solution? A social media and tech platform that empowers anyone to organize and market in-person events - from intimate dinner parties to underground raves to wellness pop-ups. Most interestingly, Posh helps attendees connect with each other through these curated experiences.

Avante reveals 

• his true motivation for building Posh
• what it takes to grow a venture-backed company with soul, and how fundraising really works
• how to create standout events that sell 
• how to overcome your fear and connect in-person 
• and how to find a genuine sense of belonging. 

Follow Avante:

• Avante on Instagram - http://bit.ly/44lu94s
• Posh on Instagram - http://bit.ly/3TmRnki
• Posh website - posh.vip

Get Alchemy Social email updates:

• https://sujeansong.substack.com

Follow Sujean:

• https://www.youtube.com/@sujeansong
• https://linktr.ee/sujeansong