What if you hit rock bottom at 18 and almost lost your life to addiction.

Do you think you could recover?

EXCLUSIVE This is Cara Santana Leto’s first sit-down interview as a married woman, and she doesn’t hold back. From hitting rock bottom at 18 and nearly losing her life to addiction, to being ousted as CEO of her first company, to finding love again with husband Shannon Leto and launching a new brand, Cara is rewriting what it means to be a multi-hyphenate creative entrepreneur.

• How to perfect the role of “multi-hyphenate” creative entrepreneur
• How to leave something that isn’t working to find your truth
• How to start over time and time again without shame or regret
• How to find a whitespace in a saturated industry
• The inner workings of a Kardashian adjacent brand
• The beginning of lil luv dog
• Lessons from a second time founder for first time founders

HSR listeners can enjoy 10% off at ⁠Lil Luv Dog⁠ with code HOTRICH10

⸻

This episode is sponsored by:

- HSR Newsletter - Get 3 months free using ⁠⁠⁠this link⁠⁠⁠.

⸻

Become an HSR Angel in the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Global HSR WhatsApp channel⁠⁠⁠⁠!

⸻

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you like what you hear, rate, review, and subscribe to Hot Smart Rich, the podcast supporting women who own their worth — in business, wealth, and life.

⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠

⸻

💌

Own your worth — and build the life you want. Subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter, the no-BS guide to startup life, consumer brands, and becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self, written by Maggie Sellers. Join 250,000+ women building wealth, confidence, and community on their own terms.

⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe here⁠⁠⁠⁠

⸻

Follow Maggie:

⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Tiktok⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Locker⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠ShopMy⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Storefront⁠⁠⁠

⸻

Follow Cara & Lil Luv Dog:⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠Lil Luv Dog⁠⁠Website⁠

⸻

More from Hot Smart Rich:

⁠⁠⁠⁠The Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Merch⁠⁠⁠⁠

⸻

This episode is produced by HSR Media, a division of Creative MES LLC, with support from Vandana Ravi.

⸻

Hot Smart Rich is your place to hear unfiltered conversations with the people shaping the future of culture, creators, startups and community. Hosted by Maggie Sellers, investor and media powerhouse, and guests breaking the mold, you’ll get the real deal as it relates to navigating the startup fast lane, leveling up your life or becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self. New episodes weekly on Wednesdays.

⸻

Cara Santana Leto is an American actress, producer, and screenwriter best known for her roles in Vida, Salem, and Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3: Viva La Fiesta!. She began her career with appearances on CSI: Miami and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation before landing recurring roles in Reunion, Major Crimes, and Santa Clarita Diet. Beyond acting, she has written and produced projects including Steps (2019).In May 2025, Cara married musician Shannon Leto (Thirty Seconds to Mars) in a star-studded Beverly Hills ceremony attended by Jared Leto, Olivia Culpo, and Christian McCaffrey. Describing her relationship as a source of grounding and confidence, Cara continues to expand her creative career while inspiring audiences with her artistry and resilience.Cara Santana Leto is the co-founder of Lil Luv Dog alongside best friend, Steph Shep (Stephanie Suganami), former Chief Operating Officer of Kardashian West brands.

In this episode, meet the founder you don’t know, behind the brand you already love.

Dr. Julie Chung, Co-Founder of T3 Micro, gives the advice every ambitious woman wants to hear about building a brand, looking your best, and choosing the right life co-founder when she opens up about:

• How to use color theory analysis to look your best
• The lessons from building a top-selling beauty brand at Sephora for over 20 years
• How to use being a multi-hyphenate to your advantage
• The new standard to make your boyfriend, your husband
• What’s really going on with 12-year-olds running around Sephora
• Why exercising soft power always wins over hard power
• How to build a business with your family—and not lose your sanity

Chapters

00:00 – Meet Dr. Julie Chung: From Surgeon to Beauty Founder0:32 – How to Shop Smart: The Secrets Behind Everyday vs. Expensive Purchases1:38 – How to Use Color Theory to Reinvent Your Look (and Confidence)3:40 – How to Turn Two Worlds Into One: From Medicine to Sephora Icon6:49 – What It Really Means to Balance Being a Doctor and Entrepreneur7:57 – How to Keep Your Two Worlds Separate (When People Find Out Who You Really Are)9:52 – What’s Harder: Running a Business or Saving Someone’s Vision?10:04 – The Surprising Similarities Between Surgery and Startups11:28 – How to Build a Beauty Brand Without Raising a Dollar12:55 – When to Pay Yourself vs. Reinvest in the Business13:36 – Should You Start a Company With Your Partner? The Truth After 20 Years15:39 – What’s Wrong With the Beauty Industry Today (and Why It Matters)17:29 – How to Step Into the Founder Role After 20 Years in the Shadows20:04 – How Much Vulnerability Do Female Founders Owe the World?22:47 – How to Survive a Hard Fertility Journey (and What It Teaches You About Control)25:11 – Why Teen Girls Are Obsessed With Sephora (And What Founders Should Know)28:27 – How to Capture the Most Valuable Consumer of the Future29:17 – What Success Looks Like Through Your Kids’ Eyes31:54 – How Money Trauma Follows You Into Adulthood (and Business)33:29 – The Most Unhinged Ways Founders Save Money in the Early Days35:14 – How Your Relationship With Money Evolves After Success36:24 – What People Get Wrong About Female Founders (And What It’s Really Like)40:15 – Why Timing Matters: The Right Moment to Step Into the Spotlight41:55 – The One Female Founder She Dreams of Meeting (and Why It Made Her Cry)42:48 – Rapid Fire: Beauty, Family, and Success Hot Takes

⸻

Become an HSR Angel in the ⁠⁠Global HSR WhatsApp channel⁠⁠!

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This episode is sponsored by:

⁠⁠⁠⁠Pique⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Use this link for 20% off.

⁠⁠Frate Returns⁠⁠ - Tell them HSR sent you and learn more here

⸻

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you like what you hear, rate, review, and subscribe to Hot Smart Rich, the podcast supporting women who own their worth — in business, wealth, and life.

⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠

⸻

💌

Own your worth — and build the life you want. Subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter, the no-BS guide to startup life, consumer brands, and becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self, written by Maggie Sellers. Join 250,000+ women building wealth, confidence, and community on their own terms.

⁠⁠Subscribe here⁠⁠

⸻

Follow Maggie:

⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

⁠⁠Tiktok⁠⁠

⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠

⁠⁠Locker⁠⁠

⁠⁠ShopMy⁠⁠

⁠⁠Amazon Storefront⁠

⸻

Follow Dr. Julie & T3:

⁠Instagram⁠

⁠LinkedIn⁠

T3 Micro Instagram⁠

⁠Website⁠

⸻

More from Hot Smart Rich:

⁠⁠The Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset ⁠⁠

⁠⁠Merch⁠⁠

⸻

This episode is produced by HSR Media, a division of Creative MES LLC, with support from Vandana Ravi.

⸻

Hot Smart Rich is your place to hear unfiltered conversations with the people shaping the future of culture, creators, startups and community. Hosted by Maggie Sellers, investor and media powerhouse, and guests breaking the mold, you’ll get the real deal as it relates to navigating the startup fast lane, leveling up your life or becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self. New episodes weekly on Wednesdays.

Deepica Mutyala, CEO and Founder of Live Tinted, the #1 fastest growing beauty brand at Ulta, gives the advice every ambitious woman wants to hear to build her dream life, partner, and business when she opens up about

• What it’s really like dating right now as an ambitious woman with money

• The pressure of growing up with South-Asian Immigrant parents

• ⁠How to make money as a CEO that has nothing to do with your business

• How to become the fastest growing prestige brand at Ulta without going viral on tiktok or having an influencer strategy

• The biggest crossroads she is at with building the fastest growing prestige brand at Ulta

• Why she’s done being known as “the minority founded beauty brand”

Plus: we leave in a clip towards the end that most podcasters would delete and can’t wait to hear your thoughts.

⸻

Become an HSR Angel in the ⁠Global HSR WhatsApp channel⁠!

⸻

This episode is sponsored by:

⁠⁠⁠Pique⁠⁠⁠ - Use this link for 20% off.

⁠Frate Returns⁠ - Tell them HSR sent you and learn more here

⸻

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you like what you hear, rate, review, and subscribe to Hot Smart Rich, the podcast supporting women who own their worth — in business, wealth, and life.

⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠

⸻

💌

Own your worth — and build the life you want. Subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter, the no-BS guide to startup life, consumer brands, and becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self, written by Maggie Sellers. Join 250,000+ women building wealth, confidence, and community on their own terms.

⁠Subscribe here⁠

⸻

Follow Maggie:

⁠Instagram⁠

⁠Tiktok⁠

⁠LinkedIn⁠

⁠Locker⁠

⁠ShopMy⁠

⁠Amazon Storefront

⸻

Follow Deepica & Live Tinted:

Instagram

YouTube

TikTok

LinkedIn

Live Tinted Instagram

Website

⸻

More from Hot Smart Rich:

⁠The Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset ⁠

⁠Merch⁠

⸻

This episode is produced by HSR Media, a division of Creative MES LLC, with support from Vandana Ravi.

⸻

Hot Smart Rich is your place to hear unfiltered conversations with the people shaping the future of culture, creators, startups and community. Hosted by Maggie Sellers, investor and media powerhouse, and guests breaking the mold, you’ll get the real deal as it relates to navigating the startup fast lane, leveling up your life or becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self. New episodes weekly on Wednesdays.

Dianna Cohen, founder and ex-CEO of Crown Affair, joins Maggie Sellers to reflect on what it took to build the premium beauty brand redefining clean luxury in haircare and the future of founders as creators. 

What You'll Hear In This Episode:

• From working with Emily Weiss to building her own brand—Dianna’s evolution from beauty insider to beauty founder of Crown Affair
• The early days of Crown Affair and how her time at Away shaped her approach to brand strategy and storytelling
• Why Dianna stepped down as CEO—what she's doing at the brand now and how it unlocked a new creative chapter
• The clean luxury playbook: how she built Crown Affair into a category-defining brand
• Raising $15M and scaling to $20M in revenue—without compromising brand integrity
• Maggie’s take on the identity shifts every founder faces—and the freedom of letting go
• Dianna’s blueprint for building brands that feel personal, purposeful, and powerful

⸻

This episode is sponsored by:

⁠⁠Pique⁠⁠ - Use this link for 20% off.

Frate Returns - Tell them HSR sent you and learn more here

⸻

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you like what you hear, rate, review, and subscribe to Hot Smart Rich, the podcast supporting women who own their worth — in business, wealth, and life.

Subscribe on YouTube

⸻

💌

Own your worth — and build the life you want. Subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter, the no-BS guide to startup life, consumer brands, and becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self, written by Maggie Sellers. Join 250,000+ women building wealth, confidence, and community on their own terms.

Subscribe here

⸻

Follow Maggie:

Instagram

Tiktok

LinkedIn

Locker

ShopMy

Amazon Storefront

⸻

Follow Dianna:

Instagram

TikTok

Substack: Take Your Time⁠

Crown Affair 

⁠Website⁠

⁠Sephora

⸻

More from Hot Smart Rich:

The Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset 

Merch

⸻

This episode is produced by HSR Media, a division of Creative MES LLC, with support from Vandana Ravi.

⸻

Hot Smart Rich is your place to hear unfiltered conversations with the people shaping the future of culture, creators, startups and community. Hosted by Maggie Sellers, investor and media powerhouse, and guests breaking the mold, you’ll get the real deal as it relates to navigating the startup fast lane, leveling up your life or becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self. New episodes weekly on Wednesdays.

What if the brand you built failed—and it wasn’t your fault?What if dating came with warning labels, and choosing not to have more kids was the most radical decision of all?

In this week’s episode of Hot Smart Rich, Maggie Sellers and Katie Sellers are back in the studio, and this one’s personal. From beauty brand collapses to viral dating apps and modern motherhood, they unpack the stories that had them hooked (and sometimes heartbroken) this week.

They go deep on:

- Why it’s never been easier to launch a beauty brand—and never harder to keep it alive

- What Ty Haney’s return to Outdoor Voices teaches us about comeback stories and founder evolution

- The rise (and potential fall) of the dating app Tea, and what it says about toxicity, accountability, and modern dating

- The Wall Street Journal report that proves women are still doing everything—at home and at work

- Fertility, family planning, and the radical idea of saying “one child is enough”

- Burnout, boundaries, and why creators (and founders) must take breaks

- Gwyneth Paltrow’s genius PR move with Astronomer and why everything is content—even your ex-husband’s scandal

Whether you're building a brand, questioning your timeline, or just trying to stay sane in your 30s—this episode is for you.

Become an HSR Angel in the Global HSR WhatsApp channel!

–

This episode is sponsored by:

- Frate Returns - Tell them HSR sent you and learn more here

- HSR Newsletter - Get 3 months free using ⁠this link⁠.

⸻

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you like what you hear, rate, review, and subscribe to Hot Smart Rich, the podcast supporting women who own their worth — in business, wealth, and life.

⁠Subscribe on Youtube⁠

⸻

💌Own your worth — and build the life you want. Subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter, the no-BS guide to startup life, consumer brands, and becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self, written by Maggie Sellers. Join 250,000+ women building wealth, confidence, and community on their own terms.

⁠Subscribe here!⁠

⸻

Follow Maggie here:

Instagram: ⁠@maggiesellers⁠

TikTok: ⁠@maggiesellers_ ⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠Maggie Sellers⁠

ShopMy: ⁠Maggie Sellers⁠

Amazon Storefront: ⁠maggiesellers⁠

⸻

Follow Katie here:

Instagram: ⁠@katiesellers_ ⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠Katie Sellers⁠

⸻

More from Hot Smart Rich:

⁠The Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset⁠

⁠Merch⁠

⸻

This episode is produced by HSR Media, a division of Creative MES LLC, with support from Coldea Productions.

⸻

Hot Smart Rich is your place to hear unfiltered conversations with the people shaping the future of culture, creators, startups and community. Hosted by Maggie Sellers, investor and media powerhouse, and guests breaking the mold, you’ll get the real deal as it relates to navigating the startup fast lane, leveling up your life or becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self. New episodes weekly on Wednesdays.

Have you ever wondered how long it really takes to go from a 9–5 to a six-figure influencer?

What if your next chapter starts by trusting your gut, and not your job title?

Les Alfred didn’t come from wealth. She didn’t have connections. But she had a voice, a podcast, and a powerful desire to grow beyond what her 9–5 at Hubspot allowed. In this episode of Hot Smart Rich, Maggie sits down with Les, the host of @shessoluckypod (Dear Media), to talk about what really happened for Les to reinvent herself, create her dream life, and make six-figures while doing it.

They go deep on:

• How Les actually makes money as a creator (sponsorships, live events, speaking, and more)

• How to launch a podcast that people actually want to listen to—and how she grew to 10K+ downloads per episode

• Why her biggest opportunities (Michelle Obama, Melinda Gates interviews) came from her existing network—not cold pitching

• What changed when she stopped DIY-ing and hired people better than her

• How moving to New York unexpectedly unlocked everything she was craving

• And the truth about dating when you're an ambitious woman building something big

Whether you're side-hustling, thinking about quitting, or feeling the pull to do more—this episode is your sign.

⸻

Chapters

00:00 – Meet Les Alfred from Dear Media's She's So Lucky Podcast

2:29 – How to Reinvent Your Life and Career From the Ground Up

5:13 – How to Get Your Podcast Signed to Dear Media

10:02 – How to Shift From Scarcity to Abundance With Money

13:43 – How to Turn Your Content Into a Real Six-Figure Business

18:28 – How to Build a Vision for Your Future (and Actually Get There)

23:08 – How to Break Free From Stereotypes and Build Your Own Identity

25:28 – How to Know When to Walk Away From the Wrong Relationship

27:01 – How to Date With an Abundance Mindset (Even When It’s Hard)

30:18 – How to Find the Right People to Support You As a Creator

32:51 – How to Get Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunities

34:54 – How to Rebrand Without Losing Your Audience

40:02 – How to Start a Podcast That People Actually Want to Listen To

42:02 – Rapid Fire: How to Know What You Really Love

⸻

This episode is sponsored by:

- HSR Newsletter - Get 3 months free using ⁠this link⁠.

⸻

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you like what you hear, rate, review, and subscribe to Hot Smart Rich, the podcast supporting women who own their worth — in business, wealth, and life.

⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠

⸻

💌Own your worth — and build the life you want. Subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter, the no-BS guide to startup life, consumer brands, and becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self, written by Maggie Sellers. Join 250,000+ women building wealth, confidence, and community on their own terms.

⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe here!⁠⁠⁠⁠

⸻

Follow Maggie here:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@maggiesellers⁠⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@maggiesellers_ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Maggie Sellers⁠⁠⁠⁠

ShopMy: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Maggie Sellers⁠⁠⁠⁠

Amazon Storefront: ⁠⁠⁠⁠maggiesellers⁠⁠⁠⁠

⸻

Follow Les & She's So Lucky:

Instagram: @lesalfred & @shessoluckypod

Youtube: @shessoluckypod

⸻

More from Hot Smart Rich:

⁠⁠⁠⁠The Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Merch⁠⁠⁠⁠

⸻

This episode is produced by HSR Media, a division of Creative MES LLC, with support from Coldea Productions.

What if your big sisters worked at Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, LinkedIn, and Snap, and went to Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, and Dartmouth, just so they could hand you the playbook?

In this episode of Hot Smart Rich, Maggie sits down with Tiger Sisters Jean and Cherie Brooke Luo, two powerhouse siblings with Wall Street and Silicon Valley resumes who are making elite career advice radically more relatable. Jean (Harvard MBA, Dartmouth undergrad) built a $300M business at Snap. Cherie (Stanford MBA, Columbia engineering) scaled products at LinkedIn. Now, they’re spilling the tea on everything from Ivy League admissions and imposter syndrome to dating as a successful woman and the real ROI of a $250K MBA.

You’ll hear what it was like growing up with a Tiger Mom, how they hacked their way into the Ivy League (and why you don’t have to), the power dynamics of being a woman in finance, and how to stop doing free work and start owning your narrative. This one is filled with tactical gems, big sister energy, and real talk on money, identity, ambition, and building a life that feels as good as it looks.

⸻

This episode is sponsored by:

- ⁠Pique⁠ - Use this link for 20% off.

- HSR Newsletter - Get 3 months free using this link.

⸻

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you like what you hear, rate, review, and subscribe to Hot Smart Rich, the podcast supporting women who own their worth — in business, wealth, and life.

⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Youtube⁠⁠⁠

⸻

💌Own your worth — and build the life you want. Subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter, the no-BS guide to startup life, consumer brands, and becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self, written by Maggie Sellers. Join 250,000+ women building wealth, confidence, and community on their own terms.

⁠⁠⁠Subscribe here!⁠⁠⁠

⸻

Follow Maggie here:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@maggiesellers⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠@maggiesellers_ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠Maggie Sellers⁠⁠⁠

ShopMy: ⁠⁠⁠Maggie Sellers⁠⁠⁠

Amazon Storefront: ⁠⁠⁠maggiesellers⁠⁠⁠

⸻

Follow Tiger Sisters here:

Instagram⁠: @cherie.brooke & @jeanluo_

Youtube: @cherie.brooke & The Tiger Sisters

Shop Sisters Matcha

⸻

More from Hot Smart Rich:

⁠⁠⁠The Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Merch⁠⁠⁠

⸻

This episode is produced by HSR Media, a division of Creative MES LLC, with support from Coldea Productions.

Aishwarya Iyer, Founder of Brightland, on Copycats, Creator Culture, and Building a Luxury Brand From Burnout

What happens when a health scare leads you to reinvent the olive oil aisle—and you end up in the middle of a New York Times “olive oil war” after being bullied online by another founder?

In this episode of Hot Smart Rich, Maggie sits down with Aishwarya Iyer, the founder of Brightland, to unpack how one wellness wake-up call turned into a category-defining pantry brand that landed on Oprah’s Favorite Things list in 2022. Aishwarya shares the moment her health shifted everything, why she turned to fashion houses like Gucci and Ralph Lauren—not food brands—for inspiration, and how she reimagined a dusty commodity into a cult-status luxury product. And how wholesale partners like Amazon and Nordstrom helped scale her business.

They go deep on what it really takes to build a premium brand in a saturated category, how to handle copycats with clarity instead of chaos, and why going viral isn’t a requirement for building something iconic. Aishwarya also opens up about becoming a mom after nine years of marriage, not knowing if she wanted kids—and what motherhood taught her about identity, ambition, and leadership.

Whether you're building a brand, balancing personal transformation, or trying to define success on your own terms, this one’s for you.

⸻

🔑 Key Takeaways

• From burnout to Brightland. A personal health scare led Aishwarya to create Brightland—not to build a brand, but to solve a real kitchen problem. That authenticity became her edge.
• Luxury in the details. Inspired by Gucci and Ralph Lauren, Brightland’s premium packaging and positioning turned pantry staples into cultural icons—proving that higher pricing only works when backed by quality.
• Success invites copycats. After the New York Times spotlighted the “olive oil wars,” Aishwarya reflects on being mimicked and publicly called out. Her response? Founders should lead with vision, not defensiveness.
• Motherhood changes everything. Launching Brightland and becoming a mother at the same time brought guilt, growth, and identity shifts—reshaping how she leads.
• Visibility isn’t everything. Aishwarya skipped TikTok and virality, choosing substance over flash. Staying behind the scenes helped her build lasting brand equity.

⸻

This episode is sponsored by

- Pique - Use this link for 20% off.

- Frate Returns - Tell them HSR sent you and learn more here

⸻

Items Mentioned in This Episode

- Brightland Olive Oil - use code HSRBRIGHTLAND for 20% off your first purchase up until November 1, 2025

⸻

Links

Use ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Opus Clip⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to turn long videos into shorts.

⸻

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you like what you hear, rate, review, and subscribe to Hot Smart Rich, the podcast supporting women who own their worth — in business, wealth, and life.

⁠⁠Subscribe on Youtube⁠⁠

⸻

💌Own your worth — and build the life you want. Subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter, the no-BS guide to startup life, consumer brands, and becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self, written by Maggie Sellers. Join 250,000+ women building wealth, confidence, and community on their own terms.

⁠⁠Subscribe here!⁠⁠

⸻

Follow Maggie here:

Instagram: ⁠⁠@maggiesellers⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠@maggiesellers_ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠Maggie Sellers⁠⁠

ShopMy: ⁠⁠Maggie Sellers⁠⁠

Amazon Storefront: ⁠⁠maggiesellers⁠⁠

⸻

Follow Aishwarya here:

Instagram@helloaishwarya

@wearebrightland

⸻

More from Hot Smart Rich:

⁠⁠The Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset⁠⁠

⁠⁠Merch⁠⁠

⸻

This episode is produced by HSR Media, a division of Creative MES LLC, with support from Coldea Productions.

On this episode of Hot Smart Rich, Maggie Sellers sits down with Natalie Holloway, co-founder of ⁠Bala⁠, the brand that made fitness hot. Natalie built Bala into a $20M business with a Shark Tank deal from Mark Cuban, faced near bankruptcy, and navigated the rollercoaster of entrepreneurship—all while raising three kids under four.

The conversation gets real as Natalie shares the hardest moments of scaling Bala, from the chaos of explosive growth during COVID to nearly losing the company. She breaks down what saved the business, why she prioritizes profit overgrowth, and how she made the tough call to lay off nearly her entire team while pregnant.

Maggie and Natalie also dive into motherhood, ambition, and the reality of balancing it all—plus, Natalie shares what really happened with Bala’s Drunk Elephant drama, how she deals with copycats, and why she believes affiliate marketing is the future for brands.

⸻

🔑 Key Takeaways

You can build a $20M brand without raising big VC money.

Bala’s success proves that profitability is more important than endless fundraising. Natalie and her husband bootstrapped their way to the top—then nearly lost it all.

Scaling fast can break you.

Bala blew up overnight after Shark Tank and COVID, but hypergrowth almost killed the business. Natalie shares the hard truth about layoffs, cash flow, and surviving the free fall.

Motherhood and entrepreneurship? There’s no perfect balance.

Natalie had to make brutal business decisions while pregnant. The real talk: founders don’t get maternity leave, and work-life balance is a myth.

Copycats and competition will come—so stay ahead.

Drunk Elephant launched a Bala-inspired product. Knockoffs are everywhere. The only way to win is to innovate faster than they can copy.

The smartest founders are shifting from influencers to affiliates.

Natalie shares why paying influencers big bucks is outdated and why affiliate marketing is the new power move for brands.

Negotiate like a man.

Women are still underpricing themselves in business. Natalie learned to ask for more, own her worth, and not settle for the first offer.

Bala is just getting started.

NYC fitness studio? More retail expansion? Natalie spills what’s next and why she’s betting big on IRL experiences and digital fitness.

⸻

This episode is sponsored by Frate Returns. Tell them HSR sent you and learn more here!

⸻

Items Mentioned in This Episode

Bala — the original workout bangles. ⁠Shop here⁠

Form x Bala — the set. ⁠Shop here

⸻

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you like what you hear, rate, review, and subscribe to Hot Smart Rich, the podcast supporting women who own their worth — in business, wealth, and life.

Subscribe on YouTube

⸻

💌

Own your worth — and build the life you want. Subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter, the no-BS guide to startup life, consumer brands, and becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self, written by Maggie Sellers. Join 250,000+ women building wealth, confidence, and community on their own terms.

Subscribe here

⸻

Follow Maggie here:

Instagram: @maggiesellers

Tiktok: @maggiesellers_ ⁠⁠

LinkedIn: Maggie Sellers

ShopMy

Amazon Storefront

⸻

Follow Natalie here:

Instagram: ⁠

@natalieholloway

@bala⁠

⁠@balacize⁠

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More from Hot Smart Rich:

The Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset

Merch

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This episode is produced by HSR Media, a division of Creative MES LLC, with support from Vandana Ravi and Coldea Productions.

Weddings. Wealth. Women doing free work.

This week, Hot Smart Rich is back with sisters Maggie and Katie Sellers—talking candidly about navigating money in relationships, the pressure of influencer wedding culture, and what happens when someone starts copying your brand move for move. (Hint: you trademark or die.)

From a quick catch-up post Maggie's Euro trip to a 400% raise for the DCC, this episode covers personal stories, hard-earned lessons, and straight-up tactical advice on everything from prenups to trademarking to finding a partner who gets your ambition.

If you’re navigating wedding pressure, financial conversations in your relationship, or trying to protect your brand from copycats—this one’s for you.

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Key Takeaways

• Mixed finances doesn’t mean mixed values.
  Maggie and Katie break down how to approach money in relationships, what to consider before combining finances, and why a prenup is self-respect—not pessimism.

• Wedding culture is spiraling.
  From Sophia Richie Grainge to the Bezos/Sanchez media circus, we dissect the current state of influencer weddings—and how to stay grounded in your own vision.

• You’re not crazy—they’re copying you.
  Maggie opens up about the reality of being copied and why protecting your intellectual property is not optional. Trademark early, trademark everything.

• The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders effect.
  The power of reality TV is underestimated—especially when building in public. We explore how narrative-driven platforms shape culture and why founders should pay attention.

• Women need to stop doing free work.
  Katie shares the moment that led to a 409% raise—and why advocating for yourself is the most HSR move you can make.

• AI is not optional.
  We break down why creators must start experimenting with AI tools (yes, even if you’re not “technical”) and how to think bigger than ChatGPT.

• Supportive partners are a strategic advantage.
  Maggie shares the top questions to ask when dating to find someone who supports—not competes with—your ambition.

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Links

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If you like what you hear, rate, review, and subscribe to Hot Smart Rich, the podcast supporting women who own their worth — in business, wealth, and life.

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💌Own your worth — and build the life you want. Subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter, the no-BS guide to startup life, consumer brands, and becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self, written by Maggie Sellers. Join 250,000+ women building wealth, confidence, and community on their own terms.

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Follow Maggie here:

Instagram: ⁠@maggiesellers⁠

TikTok: ⁠@maggiesellers_ ⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠Maggie Sellers⁠

ShopMy: ⁠Maggie Sellers⁠

Amazon Storefront: ⁠maggiesellers⁠

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Follow Katie here:

Instagram: ⁠@katiesellers_ ⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠Katie Sellers⁠

⸻

More from Hot Smart Rich:

⁠The Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset⁠

⁠Merch⁠

⸻

This episode is produced by HSR Media, a division of Creative MES LLC, with support from Coldea Productions.