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In this Coffee Nº5 episode, Lara Schmoisman sits down with Sara Jensen—serial entrepreneur, author, and Co-Founder & Co-CEO of Hugh & Grace—to explore hormone health, preventative wellness, chemical exposure, and the rise of community-driven commerce.

We'll talk about:

• How 14 years of infertility reshaped Sara’s understanding of hormone health
• The hidden impact of hormone-disrupting chemicals in skincare, haircare, and home products
• Why “clean beauty” lacks a clear definition—and what real preventative wellness requires
• The power of simplifying routines to reduce overwhelm and drive compliance
• Why detoxification should be gentle, daily, and sustainable

For more information, visit Sara's LinkedIn and Instagram

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In this Coffee Nº5 episode, Lara Schmoisman sits down with Dr. Brent Ridge—physician, longevity researcher, co-founder of Beekman 1802, and co-author of Goat Wisdom—to explore the science of longevity, microbiome innovation, and why kindness is a powerful long-term business strategy.

We'll talk about:

• Why extreme longevity is influenced more by optimism and social connection than by genetics
• How the “anti-aging” narrative became a fear-based marketing construct
• Why longevity starts at birth—not at 40
• The science behind goat milk, skin pH, and microbiome balance
• How exosomes and oligosaccharides support skin ecosystem health

For more information, visit Brent's LinkedIn and Instagram

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Facebook: @LaraSchmoisman

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In this Coffee Nº5 episode, Lara Schmoisman sits down with Bora Mutluoglu, co-founder of Reacher and Y Combinator alum, to break down the reality of social commerce. Using TikTok Shop as a case study, they explore automation, affiliate strategy, creator relationships, and how AI-generated content is reshaping sustainable growth.

We'll talk about:

• Why the “easy sales” narrative around TikTok Shop is misleading
• How social commerce is maturing into a performance-driven ecosystem
• Why automation tools don’t replace relationship building with creators
• The myth of follower count and what actually drives visibility today
• When large influencers make sense—and when they don’t

For more information, visit Bora's LinkedIn and Instagram

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In this Coffee Nº5 episode, Lara Schmoisman sits down with Amina AlTai—holistic business and career coach, proud immigrant, chronic illness advocate, host of the Amina Change Your Life podcast, and author of The Ambition Trap: How to Stop Chasing and Start Living—to explore the psychology of ambition. From burnout and hustle culture to core wounds, systemic pressure, and sustainable growth, this conversation reframes ambition as alignment, awareness, and purpose—not endless striving.

We'll talk about:

• Why PR in 2026 is an ecosystem—not a standalone function
• The myth of “just PR” and why siloed teams break brand momentum
• Influencer ROI realities: affiliates, attribution, and what actually converts
• Launch events: when they work, when they don’t, and why most fail
• PR + AI: authority, citations, and why human voice still matters

For more information, visit Amina's LinkedIn and Instagram

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In this Coffee Nº5 episode, Lara Schmoisman sits down with Jennifer Bickerton and Lauren Kahn, Co-Founders of Intersection PR, to demystify what PR really looks like in 2026. From AI and media fragmentation to influencer economics, launches, and integrated ecosystems, this conversation breaks down how brands actually build relevance, authority, and momentum today.

We'll talk about:

• Why PR in 2026 is an ecosystem—not a standalone function
• The myth of “just PR” and why siloed teams break brand momentum
• Influencer ROI realities: affiliates, attribution, and what actually converts
• Launch events: when they work, when they don’t, and why most fail
• PR + AI: authority, citations, and why human voice still matters

For more information, visit Lauren's LinkedIn and Instagram and Jennifer's LinkedIn and Instagram

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In this Coffee Nº5 episode, Lara sits down with Laura Meyer—Founder & CEO of Envision Horizons and former Amazon insider—to break down why Amazon isn’t “just another sales channel.” They unpack what actually drives revenue on Amazon, the biggest distractions brands fall for, and how to build a profitable, defensible Amazon strategy without burning cash or losing brand identity.

We'll talk about:

• Why Amazon is not “just another channel,” but a full ecosystem with its own laws.
• The biggest distraction brands waste money on (hint: it’s the storefront).
• The truth about Amazon PPC, DSP, and knowing your point of diminishing returns.
• How AI can help Amazon creative—and where it risks killing brand identity.
• What causes suspensions, red flags, and “Amazon horror stories”—and how to manage them.
  
  For more information, visit Laura Meyer's LinkedIn and Instagram.
  
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  Instagram: @laraschmoisman
  
  Facebook: @LaraSchmoisman
  
  

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In this Coffee Nº5 episode, Lara sits down with Kat Garcia, Founder of Ground AI, to dismantle the myth of the linear career. They go from Hollywood sets to building revenue engines, getting real about why the traditional funnel is broken and how to use data to build actual momentum—not just noise.

We'll talk about:

• Why the "straight line" career is a myth—and a trap.
• The reality of the "Broken Funnel" and why you can't track ROI the old way.
• Why being an early adopter (like Kat on YouTube in 2006) pays off.
• The difference between AI hype and AI that actually drives revenue.
• Why retention beats ROAS every single time.
• Knowing when your brand is actually ready for automation (hint: you need a baseline).

For more information, visit Kat Garcia's LinkedIn and Instagram.

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In this Coffee Nº5 episode, Lara sits down with Allison McNamara, Founder and CEO of MARA Beauty, to explore the non-linear path from media to building a science-backed skincare brand. A grounded conversation about discipline, focus, and earning clarity over time.

We'll talk about:

• Why non-linear careers often lead to stronger founders
• Building a science-backed brand without shortcuts
• How discipline shapes product and growth decisions
• The reality behind scaling and retail expansion
• Why focus matters more than speed
• When brand clarity finally clicks
  
  

For more information, visit Allison McNamara's LinkedIn and Instagram.

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In this Coffee Nº5 episode, Lara Schmoisman sits down with Aaron Alpeter, founder of Izba, Sourcify, and Slotted, to break down the operational reality of scaling product-based businesses. From cash flow and supplier negotiations to packaging costs and operational flexibility, this episode explains why supply chain is a core growth driver—not a backend detail.

We'll talk about:

• What supply chain really is—and why it directly impacts your ability to scale
• Why cash flow and unit economics matter more than fundraising
• How to negotiate with suppliers and use payment terms as a growth lever
• The hidden costs of packaging, shipping, and storage
• Why flexibility and strong relationships matter more than optimization
  
  

For more information, visit Aaron Alpeter's LinkedIn and Instagram.

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Laurel Mintz, Founder & GP of Fabric VC and CEO of Elevate My Brand, joins Lara Schmoisman on Coffee Nº5 to demystify venture capital for founders. From bootstrapping vs. raising money and what VCs really look for in pitch decks, to the truth about AI hype and why communication trumps clever branding—this episode breaks down how real funding decisions are made in today’s market.

We'll talk about:

• Why most founders say they’ll bootstrap… until they realize you can’t scale without marketing—or money.
• What VCs see in thousands of pitch decks — and why short, simple decks win.
• Why founders must know their numbers — and why clever storytelling can’t replace financial clarity.
• The truth about the AI gold rush — most startups don’t actually have data or defensible AI.
• Why communication quality often determines whether she’ll write a check more than branding does.

For more information, visit Laurel Mintz's LinkedIn and Instagram.

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Facebook: @LaraSchmoisman

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