Aspire with Emma Grede

Have you ever wanted to start a business but told yourself, not now, it’s not the right time? This mini-episode of Aspire with Emma Grede, brought to you by Shopify, might help you realize, there’s no perfect time to start a business. On today’s pod, Emma shares why she decided to become an entrepreneur and offers key insights from her journey over the years. From tips on how to discover your “why” to the importance of a platform that can support you, Emma reminds us that every business starts with a founder taking that first step. 

In this episode, you’ll learn How to:

-Identify your personal why and use it as your anchor

-Move forward even when self-doubt shows up

-Understand what entrepreneurship can truly offer to your life

-Start small and build momentum one step at a time

-How to create a support system that allows you to stay focused

If you’ve been thinking about starting something of your own, Shopify can help you take that first step. It’s built to make turning an idea into a business simple—from setting up your store to handling payments, inventory, and shipping. That way, you can stay focused on what really matters: bringing your vision to life.

Explore what’s possible at shopify.com/aspire

If you’ve ever felt like where you come from holds you back — or that success only happens for people with access — this conversation will change how you see yourself.

Music mogul, entrepreneur and branding genius Steve Stoute joins Emma to reveal how he turned being underestimated into his advantage, using his roots, instincts, and connection to culture to build an empire that reshaped music, marketing, and business.

You’ll learn how to:

-Turn rejection into momentum

-Use your background as your competitive edge

-Build ideas that move culture — not just chase it

Watch this if you’re ready to stop waiting for permission and start turning your story into your strategy.

Thinking about starting a business but don’t know where to begin? In this solo episode, Emma breaks down the 10-step blueprint every first-time founder needs to turn an idea into a real company. From testing your idea to understanding the completion and market landscape to building a brand, pricing for profit, and leading a team — Emma shares the lessons she’s learned building multiple brands into a global powerhouses.  This is the real, unfiltered roadmap to launching your business — no investors, no fluff, just the mindset, structure, and execution you actually need to succeed.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

    •    How to start before you feel ready

    •    Why execution matters more than ideas

    •    How to research your market and find your customer

    •    The smartest way to manage money and risk

    •    Why brand and product have to deliver — every time

    •    How to lead, hire, and grow sustainably

Tracee Ellis Ross has built an extraordinary life as an award-winning actor, producer, entrepreneur, and visionary founder of Pattern Beauty. But behind all of that success is a woman who believes deeply in the power of words.

In this episode of Aspire, Emma Grede sits down with one of her favorite women — and businesswomen — on the planet to talk about how Tracee’s intentional approach to language, therapy, and clarity has shaped everything from her relationships to her leadership.

Tracee opens up about how she manifests with purpose, the patience it takes for ideas to bake, and why redefining success starts with what you say to yourself.

This is an inspiring, grounded conversation about becoming who you are and using your words to build the life and business you want.

Listen if you’re ready to:

-Speak more intentionally

-Redefine what success means for you

-Build confidence from the inside out

-Learn how your language can shape your success

If you’ve ever felt stuck, like no matter how hard you work, something’s holding you back, it’s probably not your talent or your hustle. It’s your mindset.

In this solo episode, Emma Grede reveals how mastering your mind is the ultimate unlock for success, confidence, and peace of mind. She shares the exact mindset tools she’s used to build businesses, overcome fear, and turn self-doubt into fuel for growth.

Plus, Emma announces her brand-new book, Start with Yourself, coming in 2026—a guide to building the mindset that changes everything.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to:

-Reprogram negative self-talk and handle haters with strength

-Turn failure into feedback and fear into action

-Build daily habits that wire your brain for success

-Use visualization, gratitude, and self-compassion to level up

-Celebrate your wins and protect your energy

If you’re ready to stop holding yourself back and start building a mindset that works for you—not against you—this episode is where it all begins.

Preorder Start with Yourself wherever books are sold, and share this episode with someone who’s ready to transform their life from the inside out.

If you’ve ever wondered how to turn your personal brand into a thriving business, Paris Hilton has the answers.

In this episode of Aspire with Emma Grede, Paris reveals the strategies that helped her turn her image into an empire — long before “influencer” was even a word.

You’ll hear how she:

-Built one of the most recognizable personal brands in the world

-Turned consistency and authenticity into her biggest business assets

-Evolved from celebrity to CEO of 11:11 Media

-Used her platform for purpose — and built a legacy beyond fame

This conversation is a masterclass in brand-building from the woman who started it all. Whether you’re launching a business, growing your influence, or reinventing yourself, Paris’s blueprint will show you how to do it — and make it last.

Aspire with Emma Grede is a finalist for Best New Podcast with Signal’s Listener Choice Awards!  Vote here.

In this episode of Aspire, Emma Grede sits down with her husband, Jens Grede— media and retail investor, CEO of Skims, Chairman of Frame and founder of the Saturday Group.  Jens’ business acumen has been instrumental to Skims’ exponential growth, which has a current valuation of $4 billion.  They sit down for a candid conversation about what it takes to be both life partners and business partners.

Emma and Jens open up about the lessons they’ve learned building brands like Skims and Good American, the rule that anchors their marriage, and why embracing risk and reinvention has shaped both their careers and their family life. They share honest reflections on balancing ambition with love, parenting with partnership, and excellence with vulnerability.

Tune in for a real, behind-the-scenes look at how Emma and Jens make marriage and business thrive — together.

Aspire with Emma Grede is a finalist for Best New Podcast with Signal’s Listener Choice Awards!  Vote here.

What if your brain holds the key to unlocking success, resilience, and joy?

In this episode, Emma sits down with neuroscientist, executive coach, and MIT lecturer Dr. Tara Swart to explore how to harness the full power of your brain. Dr. Swart shares practical tools and cutting-edge science on stress, intuition, and neuroplasticity—proving that you can rewire your mind at any stage of life.

Together, they dive into:

Daily habits that build mental resilience and lower stress

Why multitasking drains productivity—and what to do instead

The science of intuition and how to trust it

How creativity, nature, and beauty fuel brain health

Why purpose and community drive long-term success

This is a masterclass in making your brain work for you, not against you. If you’re looking for science-backed strategies to thrive at work, at home, and in life, this conversation is for you.

On her birthday, Emma Grede reveals the simple system she uses to turn goals into reality. She shares the five questions that shape her yearly plan, the science behind habits that stick, and why tiny, consistent actions create massive change. Whether you want to grow your career, improve your health, or live with more intention, this is your blueprint for making it happen.

From a video rental store to a corner office at Netflix. Emma sits down with Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos as he reveals how he built one of the most influential companies in the world — and the leadership lessons he’s learned along the way.

You’ll hear Ted’s insights on:

Taking bold risks and trusting your gut

Making the toughest decisions as a leader

Why values and vision matter more than algorithms

How to keep innovating even when you’re on top

Ted’s story is a masterclass in leadership, resilience, and ambition for anyone looking to grow in their career or business.