Social Currency with Sammi Cohen

A rise-and-fall story about a multi-million influencer brand undone by a holiday charity cake. A controversial campaign sparks intense public outrage and sponsor exits. Regulators, fines, and a criminal probe follow. The tale raises questions about transparency, unequal accountability, and how creators navigate real-time regulation.

Stacy Martinet, VP of Marketing and Communications at Adobe, leads brand, storytelling, and global creative strategy. She discusses how AI solves the blank-page panic and speeds ideation. They tackle ethics and transparency in generative AI, including model choice and content credentials. Stacy also shares why visuals and motion are becoming the internet's universal language and how brands can earn attention.

Nicolas Jammet, co-founder and Chief Concept Officer of Sweetgreen, who scaled a Georgetown salad shop into a national fast-casual brand. He shares origin stories and trendspotting in food. They discuss pricing and value tension in a $16-salad world. Conversation covers automation, drive-thru and the Infinite Kitchen. Also explores ingredient storytelling and how brand experiences like Sweetlife shaped growth.

Discover how Coach transformed from a cringe-worthy brand to a Gen Z sensation, showcasing the power of strategic restraint. Learn about their shift from heavy discounting to a design-focused approach, creating iconic bags like the Tabby and Rogue. Sammi delves into their savvy TikTok strategy and the success of experiential retail, all leading to a jaw-dropping $5.6 billion in revenue. The core lesson? Quality and meaning triumph over chasing volume. Stay tuned for an exciting announcement!

Rebecca Shostak, co-founder and CEO of Flodesk, shares her intriguing journey from designing for celebrities to creating a profitable email marketing platform in just two weeks. She argues that 'marketing is dead' as we know it and highlights why email remains the most resilient marketing tool. Rebecca discusses her focus on simplicity, the power of AI in email design, and how moving to Vietnam transformed her approach. She emphasizes the importance of quality over quantity in email lists and offers practical advice for new founders.

Sami Sage, co-founder of Betches, shares her journey from a blog on a couch to a $24 million acquisition. She discusses the impact of humor and satire in shaping Betches' voice and connecting with millennial and Gen Z audiences. The conversation dives into the trad wife aesthetic, body positivity, and how civic engagement extends beyond just voting. Sami challenges the divisive nature of algorithms and emphasizes the importance of culture in politics. Plus, she reflects on her personal experiences with body image and the wisdom she's gained in business.

Explore the dramatic downfall of Saks Fifth Avenue, once a luxury icon. The podcast covers the flawed Neiman Marcus merger, highlighting the junk-bond debt that exacerbated their financial woes. Discover how vendor relationships faltered, leading to stalled payments and inventory shortages. Leadership turmoil and real estate maneuvering were key factors, revealing deeper issues in retail strategy. Ultimately, Saks' Chapter 11 filing serves as a cautionary tale about the pitfalls of financial engineering and the myth that some brands are 'too iconic to fail.'

In this conversation, Brittany Hugoboom, co-founder of Evie Magazine, and her husband Gabriel delve into their mission of creating a women’s media brand that celebrates femininity without a progressive lens. They share insights on the viral Raw Milkmaid dress and its backlash, exploring the complexities of branding in today's political landscape. They also discuss their cycle-based wellness app, 28, addressing menstrual health gaps and the market for women's health. Together, they offer a fresh perspective on modern feminism and the future of female-led media.

Dive into the fascinating world of OnlyFans and its unconventional approach to success. Discover how the platform bypassed app store restrictions to enhance creator earnings. Sammi reveals the secrets behind creator-driven growth on social media and innovative monetization methods beyond subscriptions. Learn about the controversial adult content ban and its implications for the platform's future. Plus, could OnlyFans successfully expand beyond its adult roots, or is it destined to remain niche? This exploration uncovers the multi-billion dollar industry's secrets.

Jenn Hyman, Co-founder and CEO of Rent the Runway, shares her journey of revolutionizing the fashion rental market. She discusses how social media spurred rental demand and highlights the challenges of taking a consumer startup public as a woman. Jenn reflects on the emotional IPO moment alongside her daughters and the tough realities of a plummeting stock price. She also critiques competitors like Nuuly and recounts the scandal surrounding CaaStle. With insights on building resilient teams and adapting to market shifts, Jenn offers a fresh perspective on entrepreneurship in the fashion-tech world.