What do Casper and Allbirds have in common, besides redefining modern D2C brands? They all worked with branding agency Red Antler before they became household names.

Today Sammi sits down with Emily Heyward, co-founder of Red Antler, the powerhouse creative agency behind some of the most iconic startups of the last decade. Emily shares how Red Antler went from a scrappy agency to the go-to partner for founders launching the next big thing.

They dig into the real work of branding; how to create emotional connection, why a logo is never enough, and the mistakes even seasoned founders make when they treat branding as an afterthought. Emily also opens up about the founding of Red Antler’s VC arm, how her team vets investments, and why she thinks branding will always be human—even in the age of AI.

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Here’s what Sammi and Emily cover today:

00:00 Emily Heyward’s Social Currency

01:45 The Origin of Red Antler

09:35 From Scrappy Startups to Culture-Making Brands

14:23 How to Land—and Keep—Dream Clients

18:40 When Branding Gets Messy (and How to Fix It)

24:10 Strategic Bets and the Ones That Paid Off

30:40 Building for Startups vs. Working with Giants

37:20 Breaking Down Red Antler’s Pricing Strategy

41:30 Why Red Antler Launched a VC Fund

49:23 What It Really Means to Build an Iconic Brand

54:40 Will AI Replace Branding Agencies?

1:00:36 Favorite Projects and Most Fun Collabs

1:05:22 Why Creative Breaks Are Critical

1:07:54 Crumbl, Duolingo, and What’s Trending Now

1:11:30 How to Choose the Right Branding Partner

1:20:35 How to Show Social Currency Some Love

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What happens when a unicorn startup hires a spy to infiltrate its biggest rival? Welcome to the $28 billion battle between Rippling and Deel—where encrypted messages, crypto payments, burner phones, and a secret escape to Dubai are all part of the plot.

Today, Sammi unpacks the real-life espionage scandal playing out in Silicon Valley. At the center: two HR tech giants locked in a legal death match. One allegedly planted a spy inside the other. And not just any spy—a payroll exec turned corporate James Bond, allegedly paid thousands a month to leak sensitive data from Slack, Salesforce, and more. This story has everything: honeypots, family conspiracies, a phone destroyed with an axe, and RICO charges straight out of a mob movie. And it’s all unfolding right now. Whether you’re a founder, a tech worker, or just here for the tea—this episode is a front-row seat to the dark side of startup competition.

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Here’s what Sammi covers today:

00:00 The Spy Thriller Silicon Valley Didn’t See Coming

00:48 Meet the Rivals: Rippling vs. Deel

02:16 The “Snake Oil” Feud Gets Personal

04:13 Enter the Spy: Keith O’Brien’s Double Life

06:20 Crypto, Code Names, and the Watchman

08:31 How the Spy Got Caught (and Things Hit the Fan)

11:06 The Honeypot Trap and a Shocking Confession

13:45 Destroyed Phones and Dubai Getaways

15:52 The Lawsuit: RICO, Racketeering, and Corporate Crime

18:33 Deal Fires Back and the Legal War Escalates

20:10 Why the Market Doesn’t Seem to Care

22:05 What This Means for Startup Culture

All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities, options and bonds in a self-directed account are offered by Public Investing, Inc., member FINRA & SIPC. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1890144), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC. 

*APY as of 6/30/25, offered by Public Investing, member FINRA/SIPC. Rate subject to change.

See terms of IRA Match Program here: public.com/disclosures/ira-match.

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James Reinhart didn’t set out to change the way we shop—he just wanted to clean out his closet. But that simple idea turned into ThredUp, the giant and beloved resale marketplace. In today’s episode, Sammi sits down with James to unpack how he went from teaching in classrooms to disrupting closets.

They talk about the bold bet that helped ThredUp outsmart competitors, why the “Clean Out Kit” became their secret weapon, and what most people get wrong about the secondhand economy. James also shares why partnerships with legacy retailers like Walmart and Macy’s matter, how AI is reshaping resale logistics, and his take on live shopping.

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Here’s what Sammi covers today with James:

00:00 James Reinhart’s Social Currency

01:51 From Education to Entrepreneurship

04:07 The Genesis of ThredUp

09:00 Building the Founding Team

15:20 The Managed Marketplace Model

18:37 The “Clean Out Kit” Innovation

25:43 Challenges in Secondhand Retail

28:56 Resale Market Growth Predictions

29:40 Trends in Secondhand Selling

30:23 Consumer Behavior in Secondhand Shopping

32:19 Customer Loyalty and Retention Strategies

34:06 AI Innovations in Secondhand Retail

39:46 Impact of De Minimis Exemption on Retail

46:34 Future of Retail and Brand Building

51:19 POV on Live Shopping

54:05 Surprising Consumer Behaviors

55:34 How to Show Social Currency Some Love

All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities, options and bonds in a self-directed account are offered by Public Investing, Inc., member FINRA & SIPC. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1890144), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC. 

*APY as of 6/30/25, offered by Public Investing, member FINRA/SIPC. Rate subject to change.

See terms of IRA Match Program here: public.com/disclosures/ira-match.

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Would you spend $33 on toilet paper just because it looks good on your bathroom shelf? You’re not alone—and there’s a reason why. Today Sammi unpacks the rise of what she calls aesthetic utility—a consumer movement where everyday essentials are elevated into lifestyle flexes. Gone are the days of basic olive oil and generic hand soap; now, products like Flamingo Estate’s $48 EVOO or Skinny Confidential’s premium TP are selling status, not just function.

Sammi traces how this shift evolved from the first wave of DTC disruption into something deeper: a full-blown cultural phenomenon driven by micro luxury, social media aesthetics, and generational disillusionment with traditional success. You’ll learn why this trend is booming, which brands are getting it right, and how “small luxuries” are reshaping the future of retail—one beautifully packaged necessity at a time.

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Here’s what Sammi covers today:

00:00 The Rise of Aesthetic Utility

00:22 The $33 Toilet Paper That Says Everything

01:20  DTC 1.0 vs 2.0: From Cheap to Chic

02:53 Micro Luxury: The New Status Symbol

04:49 Brands That Turn Basics Into Flexes

07:17 Sammi’s Prediction: How Ordinary Becomes Extraordinary

08:06 How to Show Social Currency Some Love

All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities, options and bonds in a self-directed account are offered by Public Investing, Inc., member FINRA & SIPC. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1890144), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC. 

*APY as of 6/30/25, offered by Public Investing, member FINRA/SIPC. Rate subject to change.

See terms of IRA Match Program here: public.com/disclosures/ira-match.

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Today, Sammi is joined by Ariel Kaye, the founder of Parachute—the cult-favorite home essentials brand that helped define the direct-to-consumer movement. Ariel shares the real story behind Parachute’s early days: from bootstrapping her first launch to navigating funding rounds, managing growing pains, and expanding from digital to retail. She opens up about the emotional toll of solo entrepreneurship, the importance of mentorship, and how she kept her business grounded in customer experience—even during the chaos of COVID.

Plus, Ariel reveals how she thinks about growth today, the pressures of staying independent, and why having options—not obligations—is the real founder flex.

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Here’s what Sammi covers today with Ariel:

00:00  Ariel Kaye’s Social Currency

02:49  Early Customer Research and Product Iterations

07:53  Launch Mode: The First Products, First Wins

11:20 Fundraising Without Losing Focus

15:32 What Early Growth Looked Like

17:39 Why Parachute Went IRL With Brick-and-Mortar

21:44 COVID Curveballs

24:19 Building a Full Lifestyle Brand

27:35 Making Marketing Personal

31:32 How Ariel Earns Customer Trust

39:47 The Emotional Side of Building Solo

42:02 How to Show Social Currency Some Love

All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities, options and bonds in a self-directed account are offered by Public Investing, Inc., member FINRA & SIPC. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1890144), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC. 

*APY as of 6/30/25, offered by Public Investing, member FINRA/SIPC. Rate subject to change.

See terms of IRA Match Program here: public.com/disclosures/ira-match.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, Sammi dives into the dramatic rise and fall of Juicero, a startup that raised $120 million to solve a problem that didn't exist with an over-engineered solution. Founded by Doug Evans, who aspired to revolutionize the juice industry, Juicero promised a convenient, high-tech juicing machine. Despite backing from major investors like Google Ventures and celebrity endorsements, the company's $400 juicer was exposed as redundant by a viral Bloomberg video. The video revealed that the machine’s expensive features were unnecessary. This debacle led to Juicero’s downfall, highlighting critical lessons about startup culture, over-engineering, and the importance of validating a problem before developing a solution.

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Here’s what Sammi covers today:

00:00 Introduction to Juicero’s Rise and Fall

00:51 Doug Evans: The Visionary Behind Juicero

01:58 The Juicero Press: A Revolutionary Idea

02:40 Silicon Valley's Enthusiastic Response

03:48 The Launch and Initial Success

05:13 The Bloomberg Revelation

07:11 The Aftermath and Lessons Learned

10:55 How to Show Social Currency Some Love

All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities, options and bonds in a self-directed account are offered by Public Investing, Inc., member FINRA & SIPC. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1890144), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC. 

*APY as of 6/30/25, offered by Public Investing, member FINRA/SIPC. Rate subject to change.

See terms of IRA Match Program here: public.com/disclosures/ira-match.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What’s the secret behind today’s fastest-growing newsletters—and how can creators build smarter, not harder? Tyler Denk is here to answer exactly that.

Tyler was one of the first hires at Morning Brew, and now is CEO of Beehiiv, the platform that’s powering some of your favorite newsletters and fueling a new wave of digital media empires. Tyler shares hard truths of being a founder, why he thinks being single is a startup superpower, and how he’s positioning Beehiiv to dominate in a creator economy flooded with tools. Plus, Tyler and Sammi dive into the role AI will (and won’t) play in the future of content. 

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Here’s what Sammi covers today with Tyler:

00:00 Tyler Denk’s Social Currency

03:23 Inside Morning Brew Early Days

06:46 Growth Hacking at Morning Brew

09:44 Leaving Morning Brew and Starting Beehiiv

16:57 Raising Seed Funding for Beehiiv

20:54 Naming Beehiiv

33:17 How to Grow a Newsletter

36:50 The Anti-VC Founder Mentality

38:36 Competing with Substack

43:54 AI in Newsletters

50:37 Contrast Therapy

55:05 Building a Company in Public

01:00:11 The Competitive Advantage of Being Single

01:02:38 Routine and Productivity Hacks

01:04:47 Monetization Funds for Creators

01:07:09 Exciting New Tools at Beehiiv

01:10:09 How to Show Social Currency Some Love

All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities, options and bonds in a self-directed account are offered by Public Investing, Inc., member FINRA & SIPC. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1890144), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC. 

*APY as of 6/30/25, offered by Public Investing, member FINRA/SIPC. Rate subject to change.

See terms of IRA Match Program here: public.com/disclosures/ira-match.

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From skincare to alcohol, it feels like every celebrity has a brand and your feed is probably full of them. But why do some explode while others quietly crash and burn? Today, Sammi breaks down what really separates the hits from the hype.

Is it all about star power—or does authenticity actually matter? Sammi dives into the blueprint behind successful celebrity brands like Hailey Bieber’s Rhode and Kim Kardashian’s Skims, and why others, like Blake Lively’s new beauty line and Katy Perry’s non-alcoholic beverage line, might be missing the mark. This isn’t just about celebs—it’s about how trust, timing, and problem-solving products win in a saturated market. 

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Here’s what Sammi covers today:

00:00 The Celebrity Brand Boom

00:38 Fame vs. Business Savvy

01:13 The Risks of Building on a Personal Brand

01:45 What Happened to Ivy Park?

04:44 Skims: A Case Study in Smart Branding

06:20 Rhode and the Rise of Skinfluencers

07:30 Beauty Industry Hits and Misses

10:07 What Actually Makes a Brand “Authentic”?

12:04 Takeaways and Predictions

12:25 How to Show Social Currency Some Love

All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities, options and bonds in a self-directed account are offered by Public Investing, Inc., member FINRA & SIPC. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1890144), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC. 

*APY as of 6/30/25, offered by Public Investing, member FINRA/SIPC. Rate subject to change.

See terms of IRA Match Program here: public.com/disclosures/ira-match.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The fashion industry is facing a reckoning—from how clothes are made to how they’re resold. And Phia, a new tech-driven platform, is betting that the future of shopping is secondhand, smarter, and more sustainable.

In this episode, Sammi sits down with Phia co-founders Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni to talk about how they went from brainstorming ideas in their Stanford dorm room to building a company that’s rethinking retail. They share how Phia uses tech to track price drops and spotlight resale options, why they’re betting on browser extensions and Gen Z, and how their backgrounds have helped them build a mission-driven brand from the ground up.

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Listen to The Burnouts here

Here’s what Sammi covers with Phoebe & Sophia:

00:00 Phoebe & Sophia’s Social Currency

01:51 The Phia Origin Story

07:18 Dropping Out of Stanford and Betting on Themselves

09:38 Building a Team and Advice from Bill Gates

14:48 How the Phia App Makes Secondhand Shopping Easy

25:23 Why Secondhand Isn’t Second-Rate

28:26 Gen Z’s Take on Sustainability

29:20 How Phia Reaches Shoppers Where They Already Are

30:11 The Resale Value Factor

31:07 Who They're Building Phia For

34:12 Lessons from Investors and Advisors

35:42 How Their Podcast The Burnouts on Alex Cooper’s Unwell Network Ties into Their Brand

37:32 Radical Transparency and Listening to Your Customer

44:41 How They Manage Their Time

47:18 What’s Next for the Future of Shopping

48:54 Whose Closet They’d Raid Tomorrow

50:02 How to Show Social Currency Some Love

All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities, options and bonds in a self-directed account are offered by Public Investing, Inc., member FINRA & SIPC. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1890144), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC. 

*APY as of 6/30/25, offered by Public Investing, member FINRA/SIPC. Rate subject to change.

See terms of IRA Match Program here: public.com/disclosures/ira-match.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Buy now, pay later is everywhere. Maybe you've seen it when you were buying a Sephora haul, or deciding that you deserve to splurge on your DoorDash delivery, but what’s the truth behind the trend? Today, Sammi answers the question: is BNPL just a shiny new version of the old school layaway, gamified for the TikTok generation? Or is it more dangerous?

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Here’s what Sammi covers today:

00:00 The Allure of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL)

01:00 How BNPL Works

01:42 The Popularity… and Risks

06:40 Economic and Social Implications of BNPL

09:11 The Financial Realities of BNPL

12:42 BNPL and Your Credit Score

15:55 Pros, Cons and the Future of Payments

All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities, options and bonds in a self-directed account are offered by Public Investing, Inc., member FINRA & SIPC. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1890144), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC. 

*APY as of 6/30/25, offered by Public Investing, member FINRA/SIPC. Rate subject to change.

See terms of IRA Match Program here: public.com/disclosures/ira-match.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices