Aspire with Emma Grede

Kelly Wearstler is one of the most influential designers in the world,  but her real genius may be how she turned taste into a scalable multi-million dollar business.

Over the years, she’s built a company that stretches far beyond interiors, expanding into product, licensing, creative direction, and media  all while staying closely involved in the work itself. In this conversation, we get into the structure, decision-making, and resilience behind that growth.

In this episode, Emma explores:

How Kelly built a 60-person studio

Why she believes in “sequence” over speed

The commercial strategy behind creative work

How she’s using AI within her company 

Investing in hierarchy and leadership

Knowing when to walk away 

Why longevity matters more than hype

This is a conversation about building something that evolves and making sure it’s designed to endure.

Interviewing isn’t a personality test. It’s a skill, and it’s one you can learn.

In this Career Girl’s Guide episode, Emma breaks down what actually makes someone stand out in the room. Drawing from years of interviewing — on both sides of the table — she shares the mindset shifts and practical tools that separate average candidates from unforgettable ones.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

 How to research like a strategist 

How to uncover a role’s hidden pain

The three-part storytelling formula that works

• How to speak about failure with authority

• Salary rules that change your earning trajectory

• The questions that signal leadership

This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being understood — and positioned.

Career girlies don’t audition. We position.

Today on Aspire, Emma sits down with Jessie Inchauspé, known to millions as The Glucose Goddess.

What started as a personal health experiment turned into three bestselling books, a global community, and an eight-figure business — built from the ground up, without outside investors.

But this conversation isn’t about going viral. It’s about control.

Emma and Jessie talk about the very intentional decision to bootstrap, what it actually takes to protect your freedom as a founder, and why Jessie would rather move slower than compromise on quality. They get into building around real intellectual property instead of trends — and why trusting your own proof can be more powerful than chasing scale.

In this episode, Jessie shares:

Why she chose not to raise capital

How staying independent shaped every major decision

The trade-offs that come with slower, intentional growth

Why she refuses to sacrifice quality for margin

How motherhood made her more focused, not softer

How a simple personal breakthrough can evolve into a global platform

Yes, they talk about her famous glucose hacks.

But more importantly, they talk about conviction and what happens when you decide something that worked for you might actually help millions of others.

This episode is for founders who care about freedom, longevity, and building on their own terms.

If it resonates, like, comment, and subscribe for more honest conversations with leaders shaping the future of business.

Today on Aspire, Emma sits down with Laney Crowell, founder and CEO of Saie – a brand that consistently has seven products ranked in the top ten at Sephora. 

Emma and Laney talk about what it really took to build Saie from scratch: the mindset shifts, the operational discipline, the hiring decisions, and the resilience required to scale without a traditional founder background.

In this episode, Laney shares:

Why rejection isn’t personal and how to use it as fuel

What raising capital as a woman actually requires

The importance of reference checks and hiring intentionally

Why refining consistently beats rushing growth

The importance of building a community alongside the brand 

The rewards and challenges of building a business as a new mother

This episode is for anyone who feels “not qualified enough” or “not ready yet” and is building anyway.

If this conversation resonated, leave a comment and subscribe for more honest conversations with founders, leaders, and builders on Aspire.

Issa Rae is entering a new chapter — not from the bottom, but from experience.

After disrupting modern television with shows like HBO’s Insecure, building business across multiple industries, and creating some of the most culturally resonant work of the last decade, Issa sits down with Emma for a reflective conversation about power, execution, and what it really means to build something that lasts.

Issa isn’t into chasing momentum. She’s moving discernment— navigating the industry on her own terms and only committing to work she genuinely believes in. 

In this episode, Issa opens up about:

Why ideas are meaningless without execution

The difference between visibility and real power

What it means to “prove yourself again” — even at the top

How she decides what not to do in this phase of her career

Why money equals creative freedom, not validation

The discipline of saying no, protecting her voice, and building on her own terms

Her desire to continue to make people’s favorite content. 

Issa also reflects on leadership, ownership, and the responsibility that comes with influence — especially in an industry that feels like it’s regressing. 

This conversation is for anyone navigating a new chapter, resisting comfort, or learning that longevity requires a different kind of courage.

What resonated most with you from Issa’s journey — her discipline, her clarity, or her refusal to rush? 

Share your thoughts in the comments and subscribe for more honest conversations on Aspire.

Angelica Nwandu shouldn’t be here...not according to the statistics. After surviving the unimaginable loss of her mother at age six and growing up in foster care, she rebuilt her world from scratch. Today, she stands as the powerhouse founder behind The Shade Room, one of the most influential media platforms in culture.

In this rare intimate conversation, Angelica opens up to Emma about:

-Surviving childhood trauma and how adaptability became her superpower

-Growing up across wildly different homes—from Inglewood to Bel Air—and how that shaped her ambition

-The accidental birth of The Shade Room—and how she built a media empire out of nothing

-What it really takes to scale, evolve, and lead a company with cultural influence

-Why ownership matters, and the crucial shift she’s making from frugality to growth

-The emotional toll of running a platform at the center of culture—and why she’s ready for her next chapter

Angelica also addresses the controversy and scrutiny The Shade Room has faced over the years — including critics who say the platform can sometimes tear down the same community it seeks to uplift. She speaks candidly about how she balances impact, responsibility, and evolution as the brand grows. Angelica’s story is proof that you can start over, build again, and create something bigger than yourself—even when no one sees your potential yet.

If you’re a woman navigating career pivots, big dreams, second chances, or the pressure to “figure it out,” this conversation will stay with you. What part of Angelica’s journey inspired you the most — her resilience, her reinvention, or her vision for the future of media? Drop a comment below.

In this powerful conversation, Emma sits down with Simon Sinek to redefine what leadership actually looks like in today’s world.

Known for shaping how millions think about purpose and influence, Simon goes deeper than theory, challenging the outdated idea that leadership is about authority, titles, or control. Instead, he breaks down why real leadership is rooted in responsibility: the responsibility to help people feel safe, supported, and able to do their best work.

Together, Emma and Simon explore why so many people feel disconnected from their jobs, why traditional leadership models are failing, and what it really means to lead in service of others. Simon reflects on his own journey to finding purpose, the discomfort that came with it, and why clarity—not charisma—is the foundation of trust, loyalty, and lasting success.

This episode is a grounded, honest look at leadership without ego, purpose without performance, and the new rules required to build cultures—and lives—that actually work.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

Why leadership isn’t about being in charge, it’s about taking responsibility for people

How helping people is the true job of a leader

Why so many leaders get it wrong, even with good intentions

What it really means to “find your why” and keep it in balance

The difference between authority and trust

Why great leaders are made, not born

How to lead without burning out yourself or your team

The simple mindset shift that creates loyalty, safety, and long-term success

Why service not power is the foundation of meaningful leadership

Why do ambitious moms feel like they’re failing even when everything looks successful from the outside?

In this enlightening episode of Aspire, Emma sits down with parenting expert and #1 New York Times Bestselling Author, Dr. Becky Kennedy for a conversation about motherhood, ambition, guilt, and what kids actually need from us.

Dr. Becky breaks down why working moms feel stretched so thin, how culture has conditioned women to absorb everyone else’s emotions, and why so many parents secretly believe they’re “not enough.” She explains why emotion regulation is the most important skill we can model for our children, why discomfort is essential for kids’ growth, and how “mom guilt” has been completely misunderstood.

Together, Emma and Dr. Becky dive into:

Why ambitious moms feel like they’re winning at work but failing at home

The real definition of guilt — and why most “mom guilt” isn’t guilt at all

How convenience culture has robbed kids of frustration tolerance

Why kids don’t need selfless martyrs — they need sturdy leaders

The danger of absorbing everyone else’s emotions

How to stop judging your parenting by your child’s behavior

What to do when you’re overwhelmed, burnt out, or in the spiral

How parents can learn, grow, and lead with confidence

This is the episode every working parent needs to watch. You are not failing,  and Dr. Becky explains exactly why.  

Did this conversation hit home for you? Drop a comment below.  We’d love to hear your thoughts and your own experiences with ambition and mom guilt.  Don't forget to subscribe to the channel so you never miss an episode of Aspire with Emma Grede.

What if the smallest decisions you make today determine who you become in 2026?

In this powerful New Year conversation, James Clear — author of Atomic Habits, the global phenomenon with over 25 million copies sold — sits down with Emma to break down the real psychology of habits, identity, and long-term success. Whether you're trying to reset your routines, build discipline, or reinvent your life this year, this episode gives you the blueprint.

James reveals:-Why “every action is a vote for the person you wish to become”-The invisible mistakes that sabotage your habits-How to escape bad habit loops without relying on motivation-Why the next hour matters just as much as the next decade -How to build habits that are obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying-The science behind consistency (and why starting is the real superpower)-Why “if you’re struggling to improve, the problem isn’t you — it’s your system”-What leaders, founders, and top performers do daily to stay ahead-Why identity is both your greatest advantage… and your biggest obstacle-How to make habit change FUN 

Emma also opens up about her own struggles with habits, discipline, and energy — and James responds with practical tools, mindset shifts, and game-changing frameworks you can start using today.

This is more than a conversation — it’s your 2026 reset, your system reboot, and your reminder that you’re far more capable than you think.

In this deeply honest conversation, Mel Robbins sits down with Emma for one of the most raw, generous, and energizing interviews she’s ever given. Fresh off the global success of The Let Them Theory and hosting one of the world’s biggest podcasts, Mel opens up about what’s really behind her “overnight” rise: 16 years of unseen work, fierce mission-driven clarity, and a relentless commitment to helping people live better lives. 

Together, Emma and Mel unpack everything from success, purpose, jealousy as a directional tool, and the truth about staying grounded when the world explodes around you. Mel shares the surprising mindset practices that changed her life, the one metric she actually tracks in her business, how to build something lasting in a noisy world, and why she believes your next chapter can begin today...no matter your age or circumstances. 

They also go deep on Mel’s new phase as an entrepreneur, the behind-the-scenes story of building her media company, and the launch of her first consumer product, Pure Genius, a clinical-grade protein shot years in the making. This episode is packed with wisdom, practical tools, and the kind of real talk that will keep you motivated this year.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

-Why success is timing + mission + relentless consistency

-How jealousy can reveal your true path

-The #1 mistake creators and entrepreneurs make

-The mindset shift Mel uses every single morning

-How to stop obsessing about other people’s opinions

-Why your biggest chapter may still be ahead of you

-The truth about money, debt, and rebuilding from zero

-How Mel built a top global podcast without chasing virality

-The origin story behind Mel’s new product launch, Pure Genius

What hit home for you? Leave a comment with your favorite moment or insight from Mel! And don’t forget to subscribe—it truly helps us grow this community and bring you more powerful conversations.