Our Playground

Today, I am joined by Anna who is the entrepreneur behind Anna Made Design Co - a handmade greeting card shop - and the creator of Soaring Together - a platform empowering teen business owners. Anna also recently started Soaring Stories, a podcast sharing biz bestie-style chats! In today’s conversation, we talk about how Anna’s passion for entrepreneurship came about, how to grow a business on Etsy, and Anna’s best advice for balancing a ton of things as a high schooler.

Connect with Anna @soaring.together

Today, Jaylah and I are sitting down and doing a HUGE life update. We talk about work and school (ofc) and we also talked about our time in Florida for DECA ICDC - including Disney World, sprinter van drama (windshield wiper malfunctioned??), and Jaylah's near-death experience (don't worry she is fine :) Also, you have to listen to the whole episode for all of this to make sense!!!

Meet Nikita Charuza, the founder of Squigs, a brand that makes effective products rooted in Ayurveda and a mission of "happy headcare". Their two hero products include the Double Shot Face Serum and the Gooseberry Delight Hair Oil, all of which has gained the attention of Vogue, Allure, and Glamour. Prior to starting Squigs, Nikita was a full-time beauty editor at Popsugar and last year, she decided to go freelance. Today, we talk about what Nikita’s relationship with beauty was like growing up, how she got the idea for Squigs, and her go-to beauty rituals and products. We also talk about representation in this industry and what she wishes she knew before starting a brand. 

Explore the Squigiverse here: https://squigsbeauty.com/

Connect with Nikita @nikitacharuza 

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Today’s guest is Emily Bach, a sexual violence prevention advocate and the co-founder of Stories of Consent. Stories of Consent which was formerly Space To Speak is a platform contextualizing what consent actually looks and feels like through personal stories and education. It aims to destigmatize the conversation around consent because unfortunately, most of us don’t learn enough about it in school. In today’s conversation, Emily talks about why she and her co-founder started the project, what consent actually means, and the power of sharing personal stories when it comes to sexual violence prevention.

Learn more at https://storiesofconsent.online/

LET'S BE FRIENDS @ourplaygroundpod + @allyphan_

Anushka Joshi is the founder and editor-in-chief of GEN-ZiNE, a global grassroots community for young voices rewriting the future. It started as a print-only zine in 2018 and has since then evolved into a multimedia collective inspiring young leaders. Today, we chat all about Anushka’s a-ha moment when she realized she wanted to be a voice in media, how she’s built GEN-ZiNE to where it is today, and the challenges of creating a print platform in the age of TikTok and IG Reels. We also dive into why she decided to also work at a media startup and her advice for zooming out and not taking things too seriously. 

Check out GEN-ZiNE https://www.gen-zine.com/

Connect with Anushka @anushkajoshi 

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@ourplaygroundpod + @allyphan_

Today's guest is Paige Cey, who is a community and brand builder. She was previously the marketing coordinator for Girlboss and currently, she’s in the process of building a beverage brand! In this episode, Paige talks about what it was like growing up as a triplet, how she got her foot into marketing and brand consulting, as well as how she landed her first job with Girlboss right out of college. We also chat about her advice for entrepreneurs and what it’s been like building Benny.

Connect with Paige @paige.cey

LETS BE FRIENDS

@ourplaygroundpod + @allyphan_

Today, we are joined by Gigi Robinson, a Gen Z chronic illness and mental health advocate. Through her work as a digital creator, public speaker, and overall a voice for the next gen, Gigi has been featured in all the major publications including Forbes, Vogue, and NBC. In this episode, she shares how she turned her early diagnosis into an advantage, her favorite platforms to create on, and why she doesn't think Instagram is dying. We also talk about networking as a Gen Z and why you need to get on LinkedIn ASAP. 

Connect with Gigi @itsgigirobinson

@ourplaygroundpod + @allyphan_

Sophie Beren is the founder of The Conversationalist, a non-partisan educational platform that is empowering a community of over 100,000 Gen Z to step outside their bubble, have the difficult conversations, and most of all unify together. And how do they do this? Through the first Gen Z talk show, “POVz” and a digital network on Geneva. Prior to this, Sophie founded TableTalk, a conversation club that has grown into a movement that has been adopted by over 60 schools across the nation. Sophie’s incredible work as a unifier has been featured on Good Morning America, NBC and most recently, she was named to the 2023 Forbes 30 Under 30 List. In this episode, Sophie shares what is was like growing up in a Jewish household, how the Conversationalist began, and a few of her thoughts on why it’s more important than ever that Gen Z has difficult conversations. We also get into some fun hot takes!

Check out The Conversationalist: https://www.theconversationalist.com/

Connect with Sophie @sophieberen

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Shirah Benarde is the co-founder and CEO of NightCap, a brand that makes drink spiking prevention products. If you didn't know, drink spiking is something that happens in nightclubs, bars, and parties and mainly targets young women. Not only can drink spiking lead to hallucinations and blackouts but it can also lead to sexual assault and robbery. NightCap is loved by their community of over 400k on TikTok, Good Morning America, The Today Show, Forbes, and personalities like Emma Chamberlain and Julia Michaels. In today’s show, Shirah talks about how NightCap came about through one of her dreams, what it was like going on Shark Tank at 17, and why it's important to diversify your marketing strategy. We also get into the ins and outs of entrepreneurship as well as what is currently in the works at NightCap.

Check out NightCap at https://nightcapit.com/

Catch the latest on IG @ourplaygroundpod

LET'S BE FRIENDS @allyphan_

This week, Ally is bringing back one of her favorite episodes you do not want to miss out. Meet Larz May, the founder of #HalfTheStory, the first nonprofit on a mission to empower the next generation's relationship with technology. Larz started #HalfTheStory in college as a way to share her experience navigating social media and mental health. Now, #HalfTheStory is making waves in schools, state and federal governments, and has partnered with Fortune 500 companies to create a safer digital universe. In this episode, Larz shares how she turned one of the most challenging times in her life into a successful non-profit, why shouldn't focus on eliminating technology altogether, and where #HalfTheStory is going next. 

Learn more at halfthestoryproject.com

Catch the latest on IG @ourplaygroundpod

LET'S BE FRIENDS @allyphan_