The Cassandra Podcast

On this week’s episode, our host Nina Rupp is joined by Kathy Sheehan, Cassandra's Senior Vice President. Kathy and Nina explore Cassandra's two latest reports, The Race & Activism Report and The Everyday Equality Report, surfacing and discussing key insights within both.

On this week’s episode, our host Nina Rupp is joined by Keith Eshelman, the co-founder and CEO of Parks Project. Keith recorded his segment from a yurt in his backyard (seriously... how cool is that?) and he and Nina explore everything about the standout for-profit business, which was created solely to give back to our national parks. Parks Project was featured in the Cassandra Daily Newsletter in a roundup of cause-oriented merch, and just hit a milestone of giving $1 million back to national parks back in August.

Not only does each collection of Parks Project apparel help fund any number of projects in our national parks—including vital wildlife conservation efforts, trail restorations, visitor education and more—but the merch is dope: it’s vintage-inspired (there’s tons of 70’s and 80’s inspired graphics and details), taps into 2020’s tie-dye craze, and is perfect for wearing around the house between those socially-distant outdoor adventures.

On this week’s episode, our host Nina Rupp is joined by Jia Yee Ni, Director of Production and Design at Kordal, a sustainable womenswear brand that’s based in Brooklyn. Jia Yee and Nina take a deep dive into what it truly means to be a sustainable brand, how that looks during the pandemic, and shifting consumer attitudes and behaviors around ethical consumption.

Our host Nina Rupp is joined by Ari Bloom, Founder and CEO of A-Frame Brands. A-Frame's first brand, Keeper, was featured in a Cassandra Daily roundup of refillable and sustainable personal care brands that were selected for their innovative approach to mitigating single-use plastic and water waste. Ari and Nina discuss the larger whitespace for brands to address these pressing issues and outline exactly how Keeper and A-Frame are doing just that. Ari has a noteworthy background in fashion, tech, and even food, and his insights as they relate to multiple verticals as well as the topic at hand are not to be missed.

Our host Nina Rupp recaps smart cycling accessories, at-home photoshoots from major fashion brands, and new avocado treats. 

Our host Nina Rupp recaps chicken nugget news you didn't know you needed, home hygiene products, wireless charging solutions for electric vehicles, and creative outdoor workout classes. 

We have a very profound episode this week: our host Nina Rupp is joined by CJ Wallace, son of The Notorious B.I.G., and Willie Mack, two of the cofounders of Think BIG. Think BIG is a social impact company that advocates for cannabis legalization, criminal justice reform, and the reinvestment in communities most affected by the over-policing of marijuana. CJ and Willie discuss these critical endeavors while also giving insight into how brands can join them in the fight for human rights and social justice during this pivotal time.

Our host Nina Rupp is joined by Muhammad Saigol and Erik Rauterkus, the co-founders of July. July is a direct-to-consumer (DTC) air conditioner brand that Fast Company described as “the Warby Parker of air conditioners.” This label is pretty on-the-nose, for July offers an air conditioner that is designed around both the user experience of installing and using a window AC and a more modern, appealing aesthetic. July was featured in Cassandra Daily a few weeks back, and Nina, Muhammad, and Erik discuss all facets of this exciting and disruptive brand.

In this week's episode of The Cassandra Daily Podcast our host Nina Rupp is joined by Ferrell McDonald, the Chief Marketing Officer of GoldieBlox. GoldieBlox is an award-winning, mission-driven company fighting to close the gender gap in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) by equipping girls with tools—including awesome toys, games, and entertainment—to build their confidence and pursue their dreams. GoldieBlox’s Curiosity Camp was recently featured in Cassandra Daily, and Nina and Ferrell fully explore this exciting initiative.

In this week's episode of The Cassandra Daily Podcast our host Nina Rupp is joined by Cassandra's designer, Teena Homes. Teena is such an integral part of Cassandra Daily, and she lends her lovely personality and interesting insights to the Daily topics of the week, which include data-driven weight loss gadgets, brands launching virtual summer camps for kids, the rise of hand masking, and some creative craft beer initiatives in the era of Covid-19.