The last couple weeks, we talked about Hilary Duff stepping back and Katrina Lake refusing to step back. This week, we're talking about Emma Grede, a woman who built a hundred million dollar brand without anyone even noticing. Emma co-founded Good American with Khloe Kardashian, but everyone assumed Khloe was the brains. Emma was the one in the factories, negotiating with manufacturers, building the supply chain, all while raising four kids and running multiple businesses. She did it all in the background. Let Khloe be the face. Let other people get the credit. She just kept building. When people finally started paying attention, when she became the first Black woman investor on Shark Tank, she'd already built something massive. If you're building something and no one's paying attention, this one's for you. You don't need to be seen to be valuable. You just need to keep building.

Sources & Disclaimer

This episode was created using publicly available information about Emma Grede's life and career, gathered from verified interviews, articles, and business reports, including:

• Emma Grede's background growing up in East London
• Her career in marketing and PR, co-founding ITB Worldwide
• Co-founding Good American with Khloe Kardashian in 2016
• Good American's launch details (sizes 00-24, million-dollar first day)
• Her work building the supply chain and manufacturing partnerships
• Coverage of Good American's growth into a hundred-million-dollar brand
• Her role as a mother of four while building multiple businesses
• Her statements about work-life integration vs. balance
• Her history as a guest shark on Shark Tank (2021) and becoming the first Black woman regular investor (2024)
• Interviews where she discussed being overlooked as the founder
• Business reporting on Good American's inclusive sizing and approach

All facts shared in this episode are based on information available at the time of recording. Any personal reflections, interpretations, or opinions included are my own. If any details are found to be inaccurate, I'm happy to issue corrections.

Last week, we talked about Hilary Duff stepping back from Hollywood to be a mom. This week, we're talking about a woman who refused to step back; Katrina Lake, founder of Stitch Fix. When Katrina was seven months pregnant and pitching investors, everyone kept asking the same question: "How are you going to do this?" They doubted whether she could be both a founder and a mom. They suggested she slow down, step back, or bring in someone else to lead. She didn't wait. She didn't slow down. She kept building. And in 2017, she became the youngest woman ever to take a company public, all while being a mom. If someone's asking you "How are you going to do this?" and it's making you doubt yourself, this episode is for you.

Sources & Disclaimer

This episode was created using publicly available information about Katrina Lake's life and career, gathered from verified interviews, articles, and business reports, including:

• Katrina Lake's founding story of Stitch Fix (started 2011)
• Her career background at Parthenon Group (consulting)
• Interviews about building Stitch Fix while pregnant
• Coverage of Stitch Fix's growth and revenue milestones
• Stitch Fix IPO in 2017 (youngest woman to take a company public)
• Articles and profiles about motherhood and entrepreneurship
• Business reporting on Stitch Fix's business model and data-driven approach
• Public interviews where Katrina discussed investor doubt and challenges
• Her statements about being a mom making her a better CEO

All facts shared in this episode are based on information available at the time of recording. Any personal reflections, interpretations, or opinions included are my own. If any details are found to be inaccurate, I'm happy to issue corrections.

After Hilary left Disney, she made a choice a lot of people didn't really get. She stepped back from Hollywood. Not because her career failed or anything like that. But because she chose to build a real life over chasing fame. In this episode, we're walking through the years when people kind of forgot about her. How she came back with shows like Younger. And why her return to music now isn't about proving she's still got it, it's just about showing up as who she is today. If you've ever felt pressure to stay the same version of yourself, or if you've wondered whether you can step away from something and come back as someone completely different, Hilary's story might be the permission you need. You're allowed to live in seasons. No apology needed.

Sources & Disclaimer

This episode was created using publicly available information about Hilary Duff's life and career, gathered from verified interviews, articles, and public statements, including:

• Hilary Duff's social media posts and public announcements
• Interviews about her music career and albums (including Breathe In. Breathe Out.)
• Coverage of her role in the TV series Younger
• Articles about her transition from child star to adult actor and musician
• Entertainment industry reporting on her career evolution
• Public statements about her family life and career choices
• Her Instagram reel and caption about returning to music

All facts shared in this episode are based on information available at the time of recording. Any personal reflections, interpretations, or opinions included are my own. If any details are found to be inaccurate, I'm happy to issue corrections.

This week's episode is different. I'm processing in real time what it means to hold grief and life at the same time; losing my grandma, watching what's happening in my community here in Minnesota, and trying to show up for my kids, my business, and my own life while carrying all of it. If you've ever felt the weight of the world pressing down on you while still trying to function, this episode is for you. We talk about the pull of doomscrolling, the guilt of protecting your peace, and the messy reality of holding heartbreak and presence at the same time. I don't have all the answers, but I'm figuring it out alongside you.

My Grandma died, and I didn't make it in time to say goodbye. I was thirty minutes too late. Five and a half years ago, my family had a falling out and I let fear keep me from reaching out to her. I convinced myself I had time, that someday I'd be brave enough to have the hard conversation. But someday never came. This episode exists because I wasn't brave enough when it mattered. I'm recording this less than 24 hours after losing her because I need you to hear this while the pain is still raw, while the regret is sitting in the pit of my stomach. If there's someone you've been thinking about; someone you miss, someone you've been too scared or too proud to reach out to, please don't do what I did. Don't wait for perfect timing. Don't give other people power over when you show up. Because none of us know how much time we really have, and "I wish I had" is the heaviest sentence you'll ever carry.

Grandma Barbin, this one's for you. I love you. I'm sorry. And I promise to be braver now.

Before Reshma Saujani founded Girls Who Code and changed the lives of over 500,000 girls, she experienced one of the most public failures of her life. In 2010, she quit her corporate law career to run for Congress in New York—and lost badly, getting just 19% of the vote. But that devastating loss showed her a problem she couldn't ignore: girls were missing from computer science classrooms. In this episode, we zoom in on that Congressional race, the brutal aftermath of public failure, and how losing everything redirected her toward the work she was actually meant to do. If you've ever failed publicly, or you're afraid of taking a risk because you might fail, this story will show you that failure isn't the end—it's redirection.

Sources & Disclaimer

This episode was created using publicly available information about Reshma Saujani's life and career, gathered from verified interviews, articles, and organizational records, including:

• Reshma Saujani's 2010 Congressional race in New York's 14th District
• Election results and campaign coverage from 2010
• Interviews and profiles about the founding of Girls Who Code
• Girls Who Code organizational data and impact reports
• TED Talks and public speaking appearances by Reshma Saujani
• Articles about her transition from law and finance to nonprofit leadership
• Media coverage of Girls Who Code's growth and national expansion
• Publicly available information about women in tech and the gender gap in computer science

All facts shared in this episode are based on information available at the time of recording. Any personal reflections, interpretations, or opinions included are my own. If any details are found to be inaccurate, I'm happy to issue corrections.

Before Jenna Kutcher became one of the most well known online educators, podcast hosts, and business mentors, she was a wedding photographer with a waitlist of couples. But success wasn't enough. In this episode, we zoom in on the moment Jenna walked away from her thriving photography business to build something that felt more aligned, even when everyone thought she was crazy.

And now she's doing it again now with her podcast, Goal Digger. If you've ever felt the pull to let go of something successful because it doesn't feel right anymore, this story will give you permission to listen to that voice.

Sources & Disclaimer

This episode was created using publicly available information about Jenna Kutcher's life and career, gathered from verified interviews, articles, podcast episodes, and public statements, including:

• Jenna Kutcher's own podcast (Goal Digger) and public interviews
• Her Instagram announcements and social media presence
• Articles and features about her transition from photography to online education
• Business profiles and entrepreneur spotlights
• Her public announcement about stepping back from Goal Digger podcast
• Publicly available information about her courses, programs, and business evolution

All facts shared in this episode are based on information available at the time of recording. Any personal reflections, interpretations, or opinions included are my own. If any details are found to be inaccurate, I'm happy to issue corrections.

In this episode, I share the story of Lori Harder and how her career evolved over time. I walk through her journey from competitive fitness into entrepreneurship, podcasting, live events, and online education, focusing on the transitions between seasons rather than one defining moment. This episode looks at how growth often happens gradually, with chapters overlapping and identities shifting along the way.

Follow us on IG @just.fifteenish

Sources

This episode is based on publicly available information, including:

• Episodes and interviews from the Earn Your Happy podcast
• Public interviews, talks, and written features about Lori Harder
• Lori Harder’s website and Business Class materials
• Media coverage related to Light Pink, The Bliss Project, and Business Class
• Public social media posts and long-form reflections shared by Lori Harder

Disclaimer

This episode is an independent narrative overview based on publicly available information and Lori Harder’s own shared experiences. It is not sponsored, endorsed, or affiliated with Lori Harder or her companies. Details and timelines are presented to the best of available public knowledge and are intended for storytelling and informational purposes.

As the year winds down and Christmas approaches, I’m sharing a gentle way to reflect on the year you’ve lived and set the next one up without pressure. No resolutions, no hustle. Just a simple fifteen minute reset to help you release what drained you and carry forward what matters.

This episode marks a shift.

If you’ve been listening for a while, you might be wondering what happened to Might Be Something. This episode explains the name change, the mindset behind it, and why Fifteenish feels like a better fit for the season I’m in now.

This episode is about why fifteen minutes matters. Why small, manageable shifts often create more momentum than big all‑or‑nothing plans. And why so many of us get stuck waiting for the “right time” instead of starting where we are. If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or like you’re always “almost” starting — this episode is for you. Because fifteenish minutes can change everything.

Follow us on Instagram! @just.fifteenish