STACKED: Money, Investing & Business for Women | The Brickell Babes

Welcome back to STACKED, the show that helps you become your own best asset.

Today's question: how do influencers actually make money, and could you build something online that lasts? Emily sits down with Vale Genta and Sebastian Genta, the brother-sister duo behind a combined 2.8 million followers and the co-founders of NextGen Creators, a Miami workshop and event series that teaches creators how to get paid. Born and raised in Miami Beach to a Peruvian mother and Uruguayan father, they started posting on Vine in high school, back when nobody called it a career, and moved to LA with $10,000 they had saved, only to watch the deposit, a couch, and two beds eat it in two months.

They break down a real rate card: price every deliverable separately, charge for paid usage rights, and price exclusivity high, because agreeing not to work with a competitor means turning down the next check. Sebastian, who has worked on the brand side, explains why you should always counter, since a brand will never come back higher than the number you name.

Finally, they open the books on NextGen Creators: the LLC they formed together, a first event in March 2025 that broke even, an October event with TikTok Shop that brought in six figures in revenue, the GaryVee panel they knew would lose money and did anyway, and why the venue is always the biggest cost. Their bottom line: influence becomes income when you build something you own.

This is educational, not financial advice. Do your own research.

This episode is brought to you by The Brickell Babes, Miami's largest network of ambitious women. Join for lifetime connections, real recommendations, curated events, exclusive perks, and a community of women who actually show up for one another.

Learn more about membership at www.thebrickellbabes.com/membership.

This is the episode for anyone who has ever wondered whether their following could actually pay the bills.

Key Topics:

Starting on Vine before influencer was a job

• $10,000, a move to LA, and two months

• The Instagram video pivot that almost ended it

• Why Miami and Latin culture content performs

• Being bilingual as a hidden advantage

• The $200 restaurant offer and holding your ground

• What you'd own if the platforms disappeared

• Inside NextGen Creators

• Breaking even, then six figures with TikTok Shop

• Losing money on purpose for the GaryVee panel

• Forming an LLC together

• The best and worst money decisions: managers

• Building a rate card: usage rights and exclusivity

• Who earns more per post

• Why some million-follower creators are broke

• Lightning round

Timestamps:00:00 – Welcome + Introduction

01:47 – Building a Personal Brand

03:20 – Starting on Vine

04:55 – The Coachella Trip That Changed Everything

10:04 – Moving to Miami & Embracing Latin Culture

11:39 – Misconceptions About Being a Content Creator

13:47 – Making $10K & Moving to LA

18:35 – The Pivot to Video Content

21:50 – Her Best-Performing Content

23:28 – Rate Cards & Why Follower Count Isn't Everything

26:06 – How to Negotiate Brand Deals

27:40 – Landing Long-Term Brand Campaigns

28:43 – Taxes Every Creator Needs to Understand

29:44 – How to Find Brand Deals

32:19 – The Restaurant Offer

37:35 – Building NextGen Creators

49:34 – Why Creators Need an LLC

51:10 – Her Best Financial Decision

53:13 – Her Worst Financial Decision

55:16 – NextGen Creators' Best Decision

01:03:07 – Brand Deals She Turned Down

01:05:45 – The Truth About Million-Follower Creators

01:07:20 – Lightning Round

01:08:53 – Closing

Disclaimer:

The content shared on this page should not be construed as legal, financial, investment, or medical advice. Your viewing and/or use of this information does not create any kind of client, patient, or fiduciary relationship with us. The contents are intended for general informational purposes only, and you are urged to consult your own advisors concerning your situation and specific questions you may have.

Welcome back to STACKED, the show that helps you become your own best asset.

Today, Emily sits down with Rhonda Singer, Managing Director at J.P. Morgan Private Bank in Miami, who has spent nearly 30 years in some of Wall Street's most exclusive rooms. A dare from friends led her to an investment banking role at Goldman Sachs, where she spent 8 years before building and leading AllianceBernstein's European sales and trading business for 20 years.

After retiring at 50 and going through an unexpected divorce, Rhonda realized that despite a Wharton MBA and decades in finance, she had outsourced her own household finances and didn't know what she was invested in. That experience inspired her mission and the creation of Financially Blonde—a nod to Legally Blonde and proof that you can be a serious investor and still love pink.

In this conversation, Rhonda breaks down the money mistakes she sees smart, successful women make, including why cash isn't as safe as it feels when inflation quietly erodes its value. She shares her 50/30/20 budgeting framework, explains the power of compounding, and outlines why keeping 3–6 months of expenses in cash can help you avoid making costly decisions during a crisis.

This episode is for educational purposes only and is not financial advice. Always do your own research.This episode is for educational purposes only and is not financial advice. Always do your own research.

This episode is brought to you by The Brickell Babes, Miami's largest network of ambitious women. Join for lifetime connections, real recommendations, curated events, exclusive perks, and a community of women who actually show up for one another.

Learn more about membership at www.thebrickellbabes.com/membership.

This is the episode for anyone who has ever handed her money to someone else because it felt easier.

Key Topics:

• The dare that took her from law school plans to Goldman Sachs

• Being the only woman in the room

• Why financial literacy for women is still broken

• The divorce that showed a Wall Street veteran she had outsourced her own money

• Why cash is not as safe as it feels

• The 50/30/20 rule for your 20s

• Done is better than perfect

• Financially Blonde and the Legally Blonde flip

• How to think about your number without spiraling

• Compounding, explained with a snowball

• Keeping 3 to 6 months of expenses in cash

• Is a Chanel bag or a Birkin an investment?

• Planning your fun money so splurges stay guilt-free

• Prenups, postnups, and gray divorce

• Wills, trusts, and keeping an inheritance in your own name

• Automatic investing and a real budget

• The FU fund and the power to say no

• Lightning round

Timestamps:

00:00 – Welcome + Introducing Rhonda

01:46 – The Stat That Changed How She Thinks About Money

03:55 – Goldman Sachs on a Dare

08:10 – Retirement, Divorce & Starting Over

12:18 – The 50/30/20 Rule

15:59 – Building Financially Blonde

19:08 – Finding Your Number

20:41 – The Snowball Effect of Compounding

22:20 – The Confidence Gap, Debt & Financial Shame

24:57 – How Much Cash You Actually Need

25:59 – Chanel Bags vs. The Stock Market

27:31 – Splurges, Cooling-Off Periods & Spending Without Guilt

29:37 – The Framework for Big Purchases

31:43 – Rent vs. Buy: What Really Matters

35:51 – Why Gray Divorce Is So Much Harder

37:29 – Inheritances, Trusts & Why Everyone Needs a Will

39:00 – The STACKED Question

44:14 – How Entrepreneurs Should Build a Nest Egg

44:44 – The Importance of an FU Fund

45:58 – Lightning Round

47:33 – Where to Find Rhonda

Disclaimer:

The content shared on this page should not be construed as legal, financial, investment, or medical advice. Your viewing and/or use of this information does not create any kind of client, patient, or fiduciary relationship with us. The contents are intended for general informational purposes only, and you are urged to consult your own advisors concerning your situation and specific questions you may have.

Welcome back to STACKED, the show about becoming your own best asset.

Today Emily sits down with Erica Groussman, the Founder and CEO of TRUBAR, who started a better-for-you protein bar brand on her own kitchen counter in 2019 and sold it for $173 million in early 2026. Erica Groussman was a busy mom of two who grew frustrated with protein bars that tasted bad or were packed with ingredients she didn't want to eat. After a disappointing experience at Disneyland, she decided to create her own. Working with a food scientist, she developed TRUBAR's original vegan, gluten-free, and soy-free flavors and personally hustled to get them into customers' hands.

A cold LinkedIn message to a Whole Foods buyer led to her first 30 stores, proving the power of persistence. From there, TRUBAR scaled to roughly 32,000 retail doors and about $100 million in revenue with virtually no traditional advertising and a lean, primarily female team of around 26 people.

In this episode, Erica shares lessons on building a brand that drives repeat purchases, growing efficiently without unnecessary headcount, and making smart decisions around risk, equity, and fundraising. She also discusses TRUBAR's $173 million acquisition by ETi Gida in 2026, why she chose a values-aligned buyer, and why she's still focused on the next stage of growth as CEO.

NEW PROMO CODE: STACKED20. Use code STACKED20 for 20% off TRUBAR at trubar.com.

This episode is brought to you by The Brickell Babes, Miami's largest network of ambitious women. Join for lifetime connections, real recommendations, curated events, exclusive perks, and a community of women who actually show up for one another. Learn more about membership at www.thebrickellbabes.com/membership.

This is the episode for anyone who has an idea sitting in their kitchen and keeps waiting to be ready.

Key Topics:

• The Disneyland moment that sparked TRUBAR
• Why Erica rejected traditional protein bars
• Creating TRUBAR's first four flavors
• Why vegan, gluten-free, and soy-free mattered
• Personally handing out bars to early customers
• The LinkedIn message that landed Whole Foods
• Scaling to 32,000 retail doors
• Growing without traditional advertising
• Why virality doesn't build a brand
• Costco's role in driving repeat buyers

• Equity and dilution basics for founders
• Choosing investors beyond their money
• Inside the $173M TRUBAR acquisition
• Finding the right acquisition partner
• Trusting your gut in business
• Why Erica stayed on as CEO

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

03:01 - The Disneyland Moment That Sparked TRUBAR

03:50 - Working With a Food Scientist on the First Flavors

04:06 - Why Vegan, Gluten-Free & Soy-Free Was Non-Negotiable

05:22 - Handing Out Bars One Person at a Time

06:09 - The Whole Foods Breakthrough

06:18 - The LinkedIn Message That Opened 30 Doors

09:44 - Why Starting at 90% Beats Waiting for 100%

10:34 - Being for Most, Not for Everyone

11:27 - Trusting Your Gut in Business

16:16 - Why Going Viral Doesn't Build a Brand

16:35 - What Costco Taught Her About Repeat Buyers

18:12 - Why She Refused to Hire Headcount for Headcount's Sake

21:03 - Building a Lean Team of 26 People

22:14 - Choosing a Family-Owned Buyer

24:23 - Why Erica Stayed On as CEO

26:33 - What to Do Before Leaving a Stable Job

27:46 - Equity, Dilution & Founder Mistakes

28:35 - Choosing Investors Who Bring More Than Money

Disclaimer: 

The content shared on this page should not be construed as legal, financial, investment, or medical advice. Your viewing and/or use of this information does not create any kind of client, patient, or fiduciary relationship with us. The contents are intended for general informational purposes only, and you are urged to consult your own advisors concerning your situation and specific questions you may have.

Welcome back to STACKED, the show about becoming your own best asset.

This week I'm going solo to talk about my first ever solo trip: ten days alone in Italy between a friend's wedding in Tuscany and a friend's 40th birthday in Lake Como. I planned the whole thing with Claude, from Florence to a train to Bolzano to a tiny town in the Dolomites called Ortisei.

I get into why the Dolomites became the reset I didn't know I needed, the 80-year-old couple I met on a hike who are still traveling the world for his work as a land artist, and why Venice, alone, no partner, no plan, was the part of the trip that scared me the most and the part I'm most proud of.

I also stumbled into a wild bit of history: Venice was the birthplace of modern accounting, insurance, and a gold-backed currency called the ducat, centuries before anyone called Bitcoin digital gold.

This episode is brought to you by The Brickell Babes, Miami’s largest network of ambitious women. Join for lifetime connections, real recommendations, curated events, exclusive perks, and a community of women who actually show up for one another. Learn more about membership. http://www.thebrickellbabes.com/membership

Key Topics Covered:

- Why I finally took my first solo trip

- Ten days stuck between two group trips in Italy

- How I planned the whole trip with Claude

- Florence, then a train to Bolzano, then Ortisei in the Dolomites

- Why the Dolomites became the reset I didn't know I needed

- The 80-year-old couple I met on a hike in the Dolomites

- Why Venice was the part of the trip that scared me most

- Going out of my comfort zone alone in Venice

- Venice as the birthplace of modern accounting and insurance

- The ducat, Venice's gold-backed currency, and the book Bitcoin Is Venice

- Ending the trip in Lake Como with friends

- What this reset taught me about balance going into the new year

Timestamps:

00:00 – Welcome + Why I Finally Did a Solo Trip

01:27 – Ten Days Stuck Between Two Group Trips

04:41 – Planning the Whole Trip With Claude

05:05 – Florence, Then Bolzano, Then Ortisei in the Dolomites

08:10 – Why the Dolomites Were the Reset I Needed

07:19 – The Older Couples & New Friends I Met on a Hike

10:08 – Arriving in Venice, Alone, in the Rain

12:44 – Bitcoin Is Venice & Venice’s Financial History

13:25 – Going Out of My Comfort Zone in Venice

14:00 – Ending the Trip in Lake Como

14:47 – What This Reset Taught Me About Balance

Disclaimer:

The content shared on this page should not be construed as legal, financial, investment, or medical advice. Your viewing and/or use of this information does not create any kind of client, patient, or fiduciary relationship with us. The contents are intended for general informational purposes only, and you are urged to consult your own advisors concerning your situation and specific questions you may have.

Welcome back to STACKED, the show about becoming your own best asset.

Today Emily sits down with Ron Hammond, Head of Policy and Advocacy at Wintermute, a global trading firm. Ron has spent nearly a decade inside the rooms where crypto's rules actually get written — as a congressional staffer who helped craft the first bipartisan crypto bill in history, as Ripple's in-house lobbyist, and as Senior Director of Government Relations at the Blockchain Association.

In this conversation, Ron breaks down how Washington actually regulates digital assets: the market-structure bill sitting one procedural vote away from passing or dying for the year, why Bitcoin is treated more like a commodity than a security under the law, and the decade-long turf war between the SEC and CFTC. He also walks through his own path from Capitol Hill to industry advocacy, demystifies what a lobbyist's job actually looks like, and explains what the GENIUS Act's stablecoin rules mean for how money moves.

This is the episode for anyone holding Bitcoin who has never had the policy layer explained to them in plain English.

This episode is brought to you by The Brickell Babes, Miami’s largest network of ambitious women. Join for lifetime connections, real recommendations, curated events, exclusive perks, and a community of women who actually show up for one another. Learn more about membership. http://www.thebrickellbabes.com/membership

Key Topics:

• The Clarity Act & market structure

• Bitcoin as a commodity, not a security

• SEC vs. CFTC's decade-long jurisdiction fight

• The Token Taxonomy Act's origin story

• GENIUS Act & stablecoins

• What a market maker actually does

• Ron's path: Capitol Hill to industry advocacy

• How a bill actually becomes law

• Bitcoin vs. "crypto," where the distinction matters

• The economics of crypto lobbying

Timestamps:

00:00 – Welcome + Introducing Ron Hammond

03:06 – How a 20-Year-Old Staffer Ended Up in D.C. Crypto Policy

07:42 – Writing the First Bipartisan Crypto Bill in Congress

11:54 – The Secret to Explaining Complex Ideas to Powerful People

17:06 – Why Crypto Policy Is Really About People, Not Technology

19:12 – The Uber Driver's Bitcoin Lesson

20:56 – How Stablecoins Changed Everything

24:46 – Why Bitcoin Isn't a Security

29:06 – The Questions That Help Predict Rug Pulls

34:42 – What Washington Still Gets Wrong About Crypto

40:18 – The Fight Over Crypto Regulation

47:05 – Why America's Anti-Tech Policies Push Innovation Offshore

53:58 – The Future of Bitcoin & Digital Assets in the U.S.

01:03:12 – CBDCs, Privacy & Financial Surveillance

01:09:38 – Lightning Round

01:13:42 – Where to Find Ron Hammond

Disclaimer:

The content shared on this page should not be construed as legal, financial, investment, or medical advice. Your viewing and/or use of this information does not create any kind of client, patient, or fiduciary relationship with us. The contents are intended for general informational purposes only, and you are urged to consult your own advisors concerning your situation and specific questions you may have.

Welcome back to STACKED, the show about becoming your own best asset.

Today I sat down with Dr. Soshana Clerizier, a board-certified anesthesiologist and Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology at Weill Cornell Medicine. Her actual day job is guiding patients safely into unconsciousness in the operating room — and she's taken everything she knows about how the body lets go and built Knocked Out, a physician-led sleep wellness studio for high performers who have optimized everything except the one thing that won't cooperate: rest.

In this conversation, we get into why standard wellness advice fails ambitious women, the physiological reason you're still awake at 2am, and the one sleep habit tied to a 24% lower mortality risk in a 105,000-person study. She also gives me her real physician's verdict on the sleep-divorce trend, whether your sleep tracker could be feeding your insomnia, and what she'd actually steal from Bryan Johnson's famously extreme sleep routine.

This is the episode for anyone who has optimized their training, their nutrition, their calendar, and their money — and still can't get a good night's sleep.

This episode is brought to you by The Brickell Babes, Miami’s largest network of ambitious women. Join for lifetime connections, real recommendations, curated events, exclusive perks, and a community of women who actually show up for one another. Learn more about membership. http://www.thebrickellbabes.com/membership

Key Topics:

•The anesthesia-to-sleep bridge

• Why standard wellness advice fails high-performing women • Sleep as physiology, not willpower

• Michael Jackson and propofol

• Wearables and orthosomnia

• The 105,000-person study

• Alcohol and sleep architecture

• Sleep divorce and the Scandinavian method

• Jet lag

• Bryan Johnson verdict

• Social jet lag

• Building Knocked Out alongside academic medicine

• Inside The Drift

• Clinical care vs. wellness-spa market

• Access, affordability, and doing less as the power move

Timestamps:

• 00:00 Intro
• 07:39 Why High Performers Still Can't Sleep
• 09:45 From Anesthesiologist to Sleep Founder
• 12:27 How Anesthesia Actually Works
• 14:26 What Determines How Much Anesthesia Someone Needs
• 16:01 Why Anesthesia Is Not the Same as Sleep
• 17:29 The Michael Jackson Story & The Dangers of Using Anesthesia for Sleep
• 19:30 The Link Between Anxiety, Trust & Falling Asleep
• 22:02 Why Modern High Performers Struggle With Sleep
• 26:31 Sleep Hygiene Myths & What Actually Matters
• 31:12 The Science of Nervous System Regulation
• 36:10 Building The Drift: Turning Medical Insights Into a Business
• 41:48 Leaving Academic Medicine to Pursue Entrepreneurship
• 47:35 Lightning Round

Disclaimer:

The content shared on this page should not be construed as legal, financial, investment, or medical advice. Your viewing and/or use of this information does not create any kind of client, patient, or fiduciary relationship with us. The contents are intended for general informational purposes only, and you are urged to consult your own advisors concerning your situation and specific questions you may have.

Welcome back to STACKED, the show about becoming your own best asset.

This week I'm going solo to unpack why Bitcoin is digital gold, and why none of the other cryptocurrencies matter the same way. I use a $10,000 Hermès Mini Kelly, borrowed from a friend, to explain what actually makes something a hard asset: scarcity, durability, and a supply nobody can change.

I also break down the real difference between the three ways to own Bitcoin right now, on an exchange, through an ETF, or on a cold wallet, using that same Hermès bag to explain the risk you're taking when you don't actually hold the asset yourself.

This is the episode for anyone who's ever said "digital gold" without being totally sure why, or wondered if the Bitcoin they own is actually theirs.

This episode is brought to you by The Brickell Babes, Miami’s largest network of ambitious women. Join for lifetime connections, real recommendations, curated events, exclusive perks, and a community of women who actually show up for one another. Learn more about membership. http://www.thebrickellbabes.com/membership

Key Topics Covered:

• What actually makes Bitcoin digital money that no one controls

• Why Bitcoin behaves like gold: scarcity, durability, no counterparty risk

• The Hermès Mini Kelly analogy for hard assets

• Why there will only ever be 21 million Bitcoin

• Why every other cryptocurrency has someone at the wheel, and Bitcoin doesn't

• Why Bitcoin didn't break in the 2022 crash when Luna, FTX, and Celsius did

• What would actually have to happen for Bitcoin to fail

• The 3 ways to own Bitcoin: exchange, ETF, cold wallet

• Why an exchange or ETF is like consigning your bag to The RealReal

• The risk of not actually holding your own Bitcoin

• Why a cold wallet is the safest way to own Bitcoin

Timestamps:

00:00 – Welcome + Why Bitcoin Is Digital Gold

00:45 – What Is Bitcoin, Actually?

02:06 – The Hermès Mini Kelly Analogy

02:38 – How Scarce Bitcoin Actually Is: 21 Million, Ever

03:10 – What Makes Every Other Crypto Different

03:53 – Why Bitcoin Didn't Break in the 2022 Crash

05:00 – What Would Have to Happen for Bitcoin to Fail

07:45 – The 3 Ways to Own Bitcoin: Exchange, ETF, or Cold Wallet

08:21 – The Safest Way to Hold Your Bitcoin

Disclaimer:

The content shared on this page should not be construed as legal, financial, investment, or medical advice. Your viewing and/or use of this information does not create any kind of client, patient, or fiduciary relationship with us. The contents are intended for general informational purposes only, and you are urged to consult your own advisors concerning your situation and specific questions you may have.

Welcome back to STACKED, the show about becoming your own best asset.

Today I sat down with Lily Shapiro, PharmD and Founder/CEO of ATIKA, a skin-longevity supplement brand. Before ATIKA, Lily spent over 15 years in finance — from investment banking to fixed income to helping run a machine-learning hedge fund — after training as a pharmacist first.

In her 40s, she started noticing changes in her own skin and health, and ended up managing a bowl of roughly 20 pills a day just trying to keep up.

In this episode, Lily breaks down what she means by "skin longevity," why she thinks dosing matters more than any single ingredient, her CALM framework for skin health, and why she left Wall Street to build a company in a category most people said was already too crowded.

NEW PROMO CODE: STACKED — use code STACKED for 20% off your first ATIKA purchase at atikawellness.com/stacked

This is the episode for anyone who's ever bought a supplement with zero idea whether it actually works.

This episode is brought to you by The Brickell Babes, Miami’s largest network of ambitious women. Join for lifetime connections, real recommendations, curated events, exclusive perks, and a community of women who actually show up for one another. Learn more about membership. http://www.thebrickellbabes.com/membership

Connect with Lily Shapiro, PharmD:

Instagram: @lishapir | LinkedIn: Lily Shapiro | ATIKA: atikawellness.com/stacked | @atika.wellness (IG/TikTok)

Connect with STACKED:

Subscribe to the STACKED newsletter — weekly headlines on Bitcoin, digital assets, business, and wellness, delivered every Sunday and Wednesday. Subscribe at www.stackedassets.co

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Follow The Brickell Babes — Membership: www.thebrickellbabes.com/membership | Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebrickellbabes/ | TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/thebrickellbabes/

Disclaimer. The content shared on this page should not be construed as legal, financial, investment, or medical advice. Your viewing and/or use of this information does not create any kind of client, patient, or fiduciary relationship with us. The contents are intended for general informational purposes only, and you are urged to consult your own advisors concerning your situation and specific questions you may have.

Welcome back to STACKED, the show about becoming your own best asset.

I sat down with Katherine Dowling, President and a Board Member of BSTR, a Bitcoin treasury company founded by Adam Back -- the only person named in Satoshi's original white paper on Bitcoin. Before any of that, Katherine spent nearly a decade as a federal prosecutor with the U.S. Attorney's Office, building fraud cases the same way every time: follow the money. That instinct followed her into the private sector at Thoma Bravo, and then into Bitcoin — in 2021 she joined Bitwise Asset Management as General Counsel, the only woman on the company's founding executive team.

In this episode, Katherine breaks down the moment she decided to leave the legal world behind for Bitcoin, why the same logic that built her prosecution cases is exactly what convinced her Bitcoin was different, and the one question she asks before she trusts any Bitcoin product. She also explains the real difference between a Bitcoin ETF and a Bitcoin treasury company, and why she believes your friends are not your research department.

This is the Bitcoin conversation for the woman who wants to think like a prosecutor before she ever thinks like an investor.

This episode is brought to you by The Brickell Babes, Miami’s largest network of ambitious women. Join for lifetime connections, real recommendations, curated events, exclusive perks, and a community of women who actually show up for one another. Learn more about membership. http://www.thebrickellbabes.com/membership

Key Topics Covered:

— Growing up hearing the story of her mother's FBI rejection letter

— Nearly a decade as a federal prosecutor with the U.S. Attorney's Office

— The follow-the-money instinct that connects fraud prosecution and Bitcoin conviction

— Her leap into private equity at Thoma Bravo

— Joining Bitwise Asset Management as General Counsel in 2021 — the only woman on the founding executive team

— Leaving Bitwise to become President and a Board Member of BSTR, a Bitcoin treasury company

— "Are you a Bitcoin believer?" — her first due-diligence question before trusting any Bitcoin product

— Bitcoin ETFs vs. Bitcoin treasury companies, explained in plain English

— "Your friends are not your research department" — her advice on doing your own research

— The SEC meeting where she learned that data beats headcount, marker in hand

— What it's like being one of the only women in the room at every stage of her career

— Lightning round

Timestamps:

05:53 – Her Mother’s FBI Rejection Letter & Growing Up Around That Story

11:26 – Nearly a Decade as a Federal Prosecutor With the U.S. Attorney’s Office

14:36 – The “Follow the Money” Instinct & How It Led Her Out of Law

18:13 – The Leap Into Private Equity at Thoma Bravo

32:07 – “Your Friends Are Not Your Research Department”

33:52 – The SEC Meeting, the Dry-Erase Marker & Data Over Headcount44:28 – Bitcoin ETFs vs. Bitcoin Treasury Companies, Explained

54:57 – The Call From Adam Back & the Leap to BSTR

57:42 – “Are You a Bitcoin Believer?” — Her Due-Diligence Checklist

01:04:02 – Lightning Round

01:07:25 – Where to Find Katherine Dowling

Tags:

Katherine Dowling, BSTR, Bitcoin treasury company, federal prosecutor, U.S. Attorney's Office, Bitwise Asset Management, Thoma Bravo, Adam Back, Bitcoin ETF vs treasury company, women in Bitcoin, women in finance, do your own research, career change to Bitcoin, Bitcoin conviction, sound money, STACKED podcast, Emily Dempsey, Brickell Babes,, institutional Bitcoin, digital assets,

Disclaimer:The content shared on this page should not be construed as legal, financial, investment, or medical advice. Your viewing and/or use of this information does not create any kind of client, patient, or fiduciary relationship with us. The contents are intended for general informational purposes only, and you are urged to consult your own advisors concerning your situation and specific questions you may have.

Welcome back to STACKED, the show about becoming your own best asset.

This week I'm going solo to answer the questions you ask me constantly: how did The Brickell Babes actually start, and what does it really take to build a community from scratch? I pull back the curtain on the unglamorous part nobody posts about.

I take you back to the beginning — relocating to Miami from New York, struggling to make friends, and starting a Facebook group selfishly, out of my own need. I booked our first happy hour for 4 people, and 20 showed up. Four years later we're over 70,000 women across our platforms.

I get into the media kit that changed everything, why I fought venues just to get a table, and the real difference between a community and a following. I share the 3 biggest mistakes I see people make when they try to build one, why I refused to monetize for years, and the one asset I wish I had started capturing on day one.

This is the honest, no-highlight-reel version of building something that outgrows you.

This episode is brought to you by The Brickell Babes, Miami’s largest network of ambitious women. Join for lifetime connections, real recommendations, curated events, exclusive perks, and a community of women who actually show up for one another. Learn more about membership. http://www.thebrickellbabes.com/membership

Key Topics Covered:

— Why I moved from New York to Miami with no real plan

— Starting a community selfishly, out of my own need for friends and recommendations

— The first happy hour: a table booked for 4, and 20 women showing up

— The media kit that got local venues to say yes

— Why splitting the bill kills community events

— What year one of The Brickell Babes actually looked like

— Authenticity in practice: consistency, honesty, and having an opinion

— Community vs. following — what each one actually needs

— The 3 biggest mistakes people make building a community

— Why monetizing too soon is a scarcity mindset

— Underpromise and overdeliver as the rule for brand partnerships

— Owned media: why email and demographics beat followers

— What I wish I knew at the very beginning

Timestamps:

00:00 – Cold Open + Welcome

01:31 – Why This Solo Episode on Community Building

02:13 – How The Brickell Babes Started: Moving to Miami With No Friends

03:51 – The First Happy Hour: Planned for 4, 20 Women Showed Up

05:03 – Why Splitting the Bill Defeats the Purpose of Community

05:26 – The Media Kit That Opened Doors With Venues

08:52 – What Year One of Building a Community Actually Looked Like

09:59 – Authenticity in Practice: Consistency, Honesty & Having Opinions

10:43 – Reaching 70,000 Women While Staying Consistent

13:17 – Community-First vs. Influencer-Driven Growth

14:02 – The Unsexy, High-Touch Work Behind a 70,000-Person Community

15:17 – The Moment Brickell Babes Stopped Feeling Like a Hobby

16:24 – The 3 Biggest Mistakes People Make Building Community

17:59 – Why I Didn't Monetize Earlier — And Why Restraint Paid Off

18:52 – What a Community Needs That a Following Doesn't (The YPO Model)

21:16 – What I Wish I Knew Earlier About Owned Media

22:54 – Accept Help, Let Other People Lead

23:22 – Closing + Where to Find STACKED & The Brickell Babes

Tags:

community building, how to build a community, Brickell Babes, women's network, Miami, Emily Dempsey, community vs following, owned media, email list, brand partnerships, founder journey, women entrepreneurs, building in public, networking for women, STACKED podcast, organic growth, community first, women in business, passion project to business

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