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Say More episodes
- Business vs. Brand | Nadaam & Building What Money Can't Buy with Matt Scanlan
Matt Scanlan, co-founder of Nadaam, joins us to talk about the wild origin story behind his cashmere empire, including the time he stuffed $2.5M into 32 shopping bags and trekked into the Gobi Desert. We unpack how Mongolia reshaped his understanding of value, sustainability, and what it means to build a business that’s both ethical and profitable.
From nonprofit roots to running three fashion brands at once, Matt shares his take on “millennialist capitalism,” navigating scale without selling out, and why gratitude and equity matter in business. We get into brand-building, viral storytelling, and the real talk behind partnerships, hiring, and economic curveballs.Topics Covered:The Gobi Desert cashmere storyBrand-building, creativity, and why you can't rush itBrand doesn't equal businessGetting so many "no's" to get to "yes"Running multiple brands at onceSearching for external validation only to learn it's an inside jobHiring, firing, and what Matt is really good atNavigating scale, values, and consumer tensionLuck vs. timing in startup successFollow Nadaam on Instagram: / naadam.coand online: https://naadam.co/Thank you to our sponsors, Monark & Co (monarkandco.com) and to The Big Favorite (thebigfavorite.com) - Take 15% off your first order with code: SAYMORE15 and wear it under your Nadaam!1 hr 4 min - If You Know, You Know | Mickey Drexler on Intuition, Gut, & Seeing Around Corners
Often referred to as “the merchant prince”, Mickey Drexler has defined multiple eras in American fashion. He took Gap’s revenue from $400M to nearly $15B, created iconic brands, Old Navy and Madewell, reinvented J.Crew and took it public in 2006, and today serves as Chairman of Alex Mill and head of Drexler Ventures. Named Retailer of the Decade by WWD, honored by the CFDA, and once described by Steve Jobs as “the best retailer in the world”, Mickey’s career is a masterclass in vision, creativity, and leadership.
In this episode, we explore:
Authenticity and adversity: Why money was never his motivator, and what truly drives his turnarounds.
Personal journey: Growing up in the Bronx, living in imagination, and lessons from being fired at Gap.
Creativity + business: How he balanced merchant instincts with CEO responsibilities, and why creative-led brands often win.
Mentorship and influence: His friendship with Steve Jobs, recognizing talent and good design
Merchant mindset: Trusting your gut, simplicity as luxury, and the art of brand building.
Legacy + future: the state of fashion today, advice for young people and women, and what excites him most at Alex Mill.
Follow Mickey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/millard-mickey-drexler-1b00a9269/ and https://www.instagram.com/mickeydrexler/?hl=en
Alex Mill: https://www.alexmill.com/
Thank you to our sponsors, Monark & Co (monarkandco.com) and to The Big Favorite (thebigfavorite.com) - Take 15% off your first order with code: SAYMORE15
52 min - The Honest Company & the Power of Intuition | Christopher Gavigan on Building Better Businesses
In this episode of Say More, we sit down with Christopher Gavigan: entrepreneur, environmental advocate, co‑founder of The Honest Company and Prima and now founder of Walkfully. From his early studies in environmental science to building mission‑driven businesses, Christopher shares how values, authenticity, and purpose have guided his journey.
What You’ll Hear in This Episode:Roots & values: How growing up shaped Christopher’s worldview and drew him to environmental sciences
Nonprofit lessons: The highs and lows of leading a nonprofit, and what he carried forward.
Authenticity & truth: Why authenticity is more than a buzzword, and what it means to him personally.
The Honest Company story: How the vision evolved, and how co‑founders’ “superpowers” made the business thrive.
Family & place: Why he returned to the East Coast after years in California, and what raising four kids has taught him.
Failures & resilience: How setbacks shaped his career and the lessons learned.
Legacy & purpose: His perspective on legacy, and whether founder alignment with deep purpose is the key to success.
Walkfully: His next venture…
Book recommendations:
Comfort Crisis, Michael EasterSecond Mountain, David BrooksThe Way Forward, Yung PuebloPivot Year, Brianna WiestFollow Christoper:On IG: https://www.instagram.com/christopher...Check out Walkfully: https://walkfully.com/Thank you to our sponsors, Amelia Risk (ameliarisk.com) - get a Free audit by signing up through their site - and to The Big Favorite (thebigfavorite.com) - Take 15% off your first order with code: SAYMORE151 hr 8 min - The Soul of Simplicity | Jenné Claiborne on Food, Family & Finding Her Path
In this radiant and deeply personal episode, we sit down with chef, author, entrepreneur, and wellness advocate Jenné Claiborne to explore the journey behind her plant-based empire and the inner work that fuels it.
From childhood memories in her nana’s kitchen to launching a blog “just for fun” that transformed her life, Jenné shares how curiosity, creativity, and purpose led her back to vegan food. We talk about the moment she realized she wanted more out of life and the questions she asked herself to get there.She opens up about:Raising her vibration, listening to her downloads and living in abundance; what that really means, and how it shows up dailyHer hustle to start her private cheffing business along with her blog and YouTube channel and what kept her sticking to it to become the number 1 vegan chef in NYCHow she manages her ambition with the desire to work less & smarter todayHer relationship to spirituality and how veganism forces you to go against the grainBuilding a business as a woman of color, navigating criticism, and staying groundedMotherhood, single parenting, and raising a vegan daughter with intention and joyHow it’s become easier for her to enjoy the journey versus thinking about the end goalFollow Jenné:YouTube: / @sweetpotatosoulInstagram: / sweetpotatosoulBlog: https://sweetpotatosoul.com/Books’s Jenné likes:Kathy Freston’s VeganistMichael Singer’s Untethered SoulThank you to our sponsors, Amelia Risk (ameliarisk.com) - get a Free audit by signing up through their site - and to The Big Favorite (thebigfavorite.com) - Take 15% off your first order with code: SAYMORE151 hr 20 min - From Netflix's Snack vs. Chef to S’noods | Lauryn Bodden on Building Confidence & Community
In this episode, we sit down with Lauryn Bodden: athlete, chef, Netflix cooking show champion, and founder of Snoods, the noodle snack brand redefining comfort food. Lauryn’s path is anything but linear: from playing competitive soccer and studying sport management to working across every corner of the food world including private cheffing, editorial, restaurants, and reality TV.
We talk about:
Her early love of sports and what teamwork taught her about leadership
Her obsession with food: where it started, and how it’s evolved
The highs and lows of restaurant life, and what she still carries from that chapter
The wild story behind Snack vs. Chef and how she went from judge applicant to contestant, and ultimately, winner
The birth of Snoods: the aha moment, the product insight, and how she’s channeling her superpowers into building a brand
What it’s really like to be a CPG founder: favorite parts, hardest parts, and whether it still feeds her passion for food
Navigating a tough business partner breakup and the lessons she’s taking forward
Imposter syndrome, identity, and the quiet work of believing in yourself
This one’s for anyone who’s ever pivoted hard, followed their gut, or built something from scratch. Lauryn brings warmth, honesty, and a whole lot of flavor. Also, get 30% off your next Snoods order with code SAYMORE.
Links & Resources:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eatsnoods
Website: https://www.eatsnoods.com/
Sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vqhs2C7v1w
https://www.laurynbodden.com/about
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rM6H1seJ8j0
Thank you to our sponsors, Amelia Risk (ameliarisk.com) - get a Free audit by signing up through their site - and to The Big Favorite (thebigfavorite.com) - Take 15% off your first order with code: SAYMORE15
57 min - From Condé Nast to Cannabis | Verena von Pfetten on Culture, Creativity & Copycats
In this episode, we sit down with Verena von Pfetten, co-founder of Gossamer, the trailblazing magazine and lifestyle brand for people who also smoke weed. Verena shares the story behind launching a brand in a taboo space, and how moments of joy, stillness, and intuition shaped her creative process.
We explore her journey from food media (co-founding The Braiser and writing for Condé Nast Traveler and HuffPost) to reimagining cannabis culture through design, storytelling, and spiritual practice. She opens up about her microdosing regimen, her views on plant medicine, and why she believes weed deserves a more nuanced narrative than the outdated “stoner” stereotype.Verena also reflects on:The moment Gossamer was born and why it felt like a risk worth takingHer spiritual protocols and how meditation fuels creativityThe ups and downs of building a brand in a stigmatized categoryHer thoughts on copycats and what it means to manifest with intentionA poetic reflection on Lopez Island, gnomes, and making things quietly and thoughtfullyFollow Verena on:Instagram: / gossamerWebsite: https://gossamer.co/Book recs: Orbital by Samantha HarveyIf you are in NYC, check out Pioneer Works and their endless events: https://pioneerworks.org/https://www.sage-sound.com/blogs/the-...https://themalin.co/journal/gossamer/https://www.cntraveler.com/stories/20...Thank you to our sponsors, Amelia Risk, and The Big Favorite!1 hr 18 min - Trading Fear for Faith | Vanessa Barboni Hallik on Building Another Tomorrow
This week, Isabelle and Eleanor sit down with Vanessa Barboni Hallik, founder of Another Tomorrow, for a candid conversation about leaving a high-powered finance career, navigating personal loss, and building a purpose-driven brand from the ground up. Vanessa shares how introspection, meditation, and a sabbatical led to the quiet birth of a company rooted in ethics and sustainability and why intention matters more than ever.
Topics we cover:- Quitting finance three times and why it was so hard to walk away
- Growing up in a “hippie, techy, academic, and artistic” household in the Midwest
- Her journey from ‘fear to faith’ through her journey as an entrepreneur
- Losing her mother to suicide and the long arc of healing and reflection
- The accidental birth of Another Tomorrow during a sabbatical
- Building a gold-standard brand rooted in ethics, transparency, and sustainability
- The power of intention and how Vanessa manifests her future
Book recommendations:
- A Constellation of Vital Phenomena
- Find Another Tomorrow/Vanessa:
Website - www.anothertomorrow.co
IG - https://www.instagram.com/anothertomo...Thank you to our sponsors, Amelia Risk - get a Free audit by signing up through their site - and to The Big Favorite - Take 15% off your first order with code: SAYMORE15
The Big Favorite IG @thebigfavorite
Follow us on IG @thesaymorepodcast / Follow us on Tiktok @thesaymorepodcast
Isabelle’s IG: @theplantiful
El’s IG: @the_elturner
56 min - From Waldorf School to Startup | Michael Robinov on Food & Finding Purpose in the Story
In this episode of The Say More Podcast, co-hosts Eleanor Turner and Isabelle Steichen sit down with Michael Robinov, co-founder and CEO of Farm to People, a radically local food company reshaping how New Yorkers connect with farmers, chefs, and their own kitchens.
We explore:
The joyful spark behind Farm to People’s inception—and why creative ideas often emerge from moments of ease
What Waldorf education taught him about autonomy, imagination, and holistic thinking—and how it shaped his approach to business and life
Growing up in NYC, dropping out of Tisch, and trusting intuition over credentials
Why regenerative farming and local food systems aren’t just buzzwords—they’re central to Michael’s purpose
What it’s really like to build a business with your father and your partner (spoiler: it’s messy, meaningful, and deeply rewarding)
How customer feedback drives innovation—and why listening is Michael’s north star
The role travel played in launching FTP, and why it still fuels his creativity
Whether an IPO or a national expansion is on the horizon—and what’s next for Farm to People
Michael’s story is a reminder that purpose-driven business can be scrappy and wildly impactful.
Book/podcast recs:
Acquired: Deep dives into iconic companies that broke the mold—like Costco, Nike, and Berkshire Hathaway. Michael Robinov loves how it showcases businesses that were aberrations of their time, yet built on enduring principles.
Think Again by Adam Grant A guide to rethinking assumptions, embracing curiosity, and staying mentally flexible—especially relevant for leaders building adaptive, values-driven companies.
No Rules Rules by Reed Hastings & Erin Meyer A behind-the-scenes look at Netflix’s radical culture of freedom and responsibility. A masterclass in rejecting convention and scaling through trust and innovation.
No-Excuses Management by T.J. Rodgers A lesser-known but powerful book on building high-performance teams through clear targets, bonus structures, and metric-driven accountability. Rodgers’ approach blends hard business fundamentals with entrepreneurial grit.
Connect with Michael on Instagram
Follow FtP on Instagram and online
Thank you to our sponsors, Amelia Risk - get a Free audit by signing up through their site - and to The Big Favorite - Take 15% off your first order with code: SAYMORE15
The Big Favorite IG @thebigfavorite
Follow us on IG @thesaymorepodcast / Follow us on Tiktok @thesaymorepodcast
Isabelle’s IG: @theplantiful
El’s IG: @the_elturner
1 hr 2 min - How to Be an Owner, Not a Renter | Babba Rivera on Authenticity, Heritage & Bold Moves
In this episode of Say More, Eleanor and Isabelle sit down with Babba Rivera—founder of the award-winning clean hair care brand Ceremonia, former Uber exec, and a trailblazing Latina entrepreneur reshaping the beauty industry.
Babba shares her remarkable journey from growing up in Sweden’s immigrant neighborhoods to launching a purpose-driven brand rooted in heritage, wellness, and authenticity. This conversation is a masterclass in manifesting bold moves, dismantling limiting beliefs, and building businesses that reflect your highest values.What we covered in this episode:Growing up in Sweden with Chilean immigrant parentsHow Babba navigated language barriers, cultural identity, and early ambitionHer leap from Uber Sweden to NYC—and the mindset behind big life decisionsThe power of authenticity and how passion creates unexpected opportunitiesWhy generosity and helping others are central to her leadership philosophyThe insight that sparked Ceremonia: “Hair care” vs. styling productsBalancing motherhood and entrepreneurship with 4 kidsWhat success feels like now—and how it aligns with her valuesLinks & ResourcesCeremonia on IG and online – Babba’s clean hair care brandhttps://www.instagram.com/myceremonia/?hl=enFollow Babba on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/babba/?hl=enTV show rec: Common Side EffectsThe Tao of Founders by Guillaume RacineThank you to our Sponsors: Amelia Risk - https://ameliarisk.com/
The Big Favorite - thebigfavorite.com get 15% off your first order with code: SAYMORE15
The Big Favorite IG @thebigfavorite
Follow us on IG @thesaymorepodcast / Follow us on Tiktok @thesaymorepodcast
Isabelle’s IG: @theplantiful
El’s IG: @the_elturner
48 min - Lorna Davis on Finding Purpose Beyond "More, More, More"
In this transformative episode, Lorna Davis—former CEO of Danone North America and trailblazer of the B Corp movement—invites us into a conversation about what it really means to lead, live, and grow through the lens of radical interdependence.
From her upbringing in South Africa to her global career across seven countries and five continents, Lorna shares why she believes that heroism is outdated—and that meaningful change depends on our willingness to rely on one another. This isn’t just about leadership. It’s about building lives, organizations, and societies that thrive on trust, empathy, and purpose.TED Talk, A Guide to Collaborative Leadership: https://www.ted.com/speakers/lorna_davisBooks: It's That Simple, Mavis Karn; Raising Hare, Chloe Dalton; Memorial Day, Geraldine Brooks; Consolations, David White; Eckhart Tolle’s workPlease support the Rhino's at Care For Wild: https://careforwild.co.za/Thank you to our Sponsors:Amelia Risk - https://ameliarisk.com/
The Big Favorite - thebigfavorite.com get 15% off your first order with code: SAYMORE15
The Big Favorite IG @thebigfavorite
Follow us on IG @thesaymorepodcast / Follow us on Tiktok @thesaymorepodcast
Isabelle’s IG: @theplantiful
El’s IG: @the_elturner
1 hr 6 min
About Say More
From the publisher's feed
Say More is a podcast that delves into the 'why' behind successful entrepreneurs and creators. We believe true success stems from aligning personal passion, skills, and goals with your business, not…
just tactical execution. In interviews, we go beyond just building a business to explore the hearts and minds of founders, builders, and creators to prove our hypothesis and establish the throughlines of success and longevity.