Social Currency with Sammi Cohen

2025 was a transformative year. In this episode, Sammi shares the biggest lessons she’s internalized since launching her podcast this spring. She leaves no stone unturned and recounts her biggest milestones, mindset shifts, and the challenges she faced while building her business. From beginning her year at Amazon to creating her podcast studio and launching 'Social Currency,' Sammi details her leaps of faith and the importance of having a strong personal brand… and gets a little emotional in the process. If you’re thinking of making your side-hustle your main-hustle in 2026, this episode is a must-listen. Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Here’s what Sammi covers today: 00:00 2025 Year in Review 01:55 Deciding to Launch Social Currency 04:21 The LA Fires and Building the Podcast Studio 05:34 Launching the Podcast and Leaving Amazon 06:04 Growing the Business and Revenue Streams 09:33 Mindset Shifts for Success 11:53 Visualization and Outsourcing 14:46 Overcoming Comparison and Planning for the Future 17:02 What Sammi’s Thankful For 18:50 How to Support Social Currency Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rebecca Minkoff’s origin story is not a glossy founder fairy tale—it’s a closet-bedroom apartment, a $3.25/hour internship, $60K in debt, and a single Rebecca Minkoff designed tee that ended up on Jay Leno. Today, Rebecca breaks down how that moment got her foot in the door—and how the next viral moment, the Morning After Bag, almost didn’t happen (FedEx late, no movie placement)… until it sparked the kind of sellout momentum every founder dreams about. Then she gets brutally honest about what it takes to stay alive in fashion when the landscape is louder, more crowded, and algorithm-shaped: the “white lies” founders sometimes tell to level up, why you don’t need VC, and the real pain of taking money.  Rebecca also unpacks the OnlyFans Fashion Week deal that covered a six-figure show—until the platform flipped back to adult content—how COVID wiped out 70% of the business overnight, and why she’s now widening the funnel with new channels like QVC. Plus, if you’re building a product brand and wondering how to get customers without pouring cash into Meta ads, her answer is refreshingly tactical: throw the “Tupperware party.” Follow Sammi on Instagram  Listen to Rebecca’s podcast Superwomen and start with Sammi’s episode! Follow Rebecca on Instagram Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Here’s what Sammi covers with Rebecca: 00:00 Rebecca Minkoff’s Social Currency 02:14 Rebecca's Early Career Goals 05:49 Learning Business in the Trenches 08:04 The "I Love NY" Shirt Story 12:18 The Morning After Bag 15:07 Trend Spotting and Product Development 21:43 Besting the Dupes 23:24 VC, PE and Monetizing Creatively (Including OnlyFans) 30:15 COVID, Chaos, and Reinvention  34:10 The QVC Rocket Ship 35:50 Inside the Female Founder Collective 36:33 Fundraising Advice Women Should Ignore 39:21 Marketing Tips 41:13 Fashion Lightning Round 42:36 Social Currency Corner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Women in corporate America aren’t burned out because of how much they’re working—they’re burned out by how much the system isn’t working for them. Today, Sammi breaks down the latest Women in the Workplace report from Lean In and McKinsey, and the findings are more alarming than the headlines suggest. For the first time in over a decade, women are less interested in climbing the corporate ladder—not because they don’t want success, but because the ladder itself is broken. Sammi unpacks the data behind the growing “ambition gap,” the consequence of rolling back DEI efforts, and why women are still being penalized for flexibility and remote work—while men aren’t.  Sammi connects the dots between structural corporate failures and the rise of an entirely new career model—one that could define the next decade of work in America. If companies don’t adapt, Sammi says, they may be staring down a long-term talent crisis. Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  00:00 The Breaking Point 01:10 Inside the Women in the Workplace report 02:15 The Truth About the “Ambition Gap” 3:13 The Broken Rung Problem 5:58 Corporate America’s Retreat from DEI 7:03 The Rise of Portfolio Careers 8:45 The Future of Work Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, Sammi sits down with Andrew Chau, co-founder of Boba Guys—the brand that helped turn boba from a niche drink into a mainstream American obsession. Andrew takes us back to the very first 2011 pop-up and the early decisions that shaped Boba Guys’ identity: choosing authenticity over gimmicks, educating customers on Asian culture without westernizing it, and designing drinks that were as aesthetic as they were meaningful. He reveals how Boba Guys became the blueprint for modern café trends—and why so many brands copy their drinks without understanding the deeper consumer psychology behind them. Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Find a Boba Guys Location near you Here’s what Sammi covers with Andrew: 00:00 Andrew Chau’s Social Currency 02:05 Sammi’s Personal Tie-In 03:37 The First Pop-Up 08:01 Early Branding Decisions and Being Your Favorite Marketer’s Favorite Marketer 13:51 Educating Customers on a Product vs. Educating  Customers on a Culture 22:24 The Future of Cafés  31:14 Vertical Integration 35:53 Matcha, Aesthetics, and Social Signaling 45:14 Consumer Behavior and Hot Takes 52:37 Social Currency Corner 01:03:17 How to Show Social Currency Some Love Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A blockbuster lawsuit just exposed the biggest fear in retail—but it could backfire spectacularly. Today, Sammi does a deep dive into Williams Sonoma vs. Quince, a case that’s revealing a seismic consumer shift: shoppers no longer believe legacy brands deserve legacy prices. Sammi breaks down why Quince’s billion-dollar rise is shaking old-guard retailers and how comparative advertising became the new frontline of the dupe economy. If you want to understand the next chapter of retail—pricing, branding, influence, and the power of “good enough”—this episode is your blueprint. Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Here’s what Sammi covers today: 00:00 Williams Sonoma vs. Quince 01:26 Quince's Disruptive Business Model  06:28 Consumer Reactions and Feedback  07:56 Quince's Foray into Food  09:01 Implications of the Lawsuit  10:18 Final Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Luana Lopes Lara didn’t just build a unicorn— she overturned a 100-year old ban, sued the regulators and became the youngest self-made female billionaire in the process. Luana co-founded Kalshi, the CFTC-regulated prediction market that lets you trade on the outcome of real-world events. Kalshi is one of the fastest-growing tech companies in the country; in fact, since Sammi spoke with Luana, Kalshi’s valuation has gone from $5 billion to $11 billion. Luana shares the ripple effects of the 2024 election on the business, the decision framework around which events are “tradeable,” the psychology of Kalshi users, and why she thinks prediction markets might rival stock exchanges sooner than anyone expects.  Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Learn more about Kalshi Today Luana and Sammi discuss: 00:00 Luana Lopes Lara’s Social Currency 02:14 The Early Days of  Kalshi 02:41 The Role of Ballet in Business 04:20 Understanding Prediction Markets 07:09 The Brutal Regulation Process 14:31 Marketing and Growth Strategies 16:18 The Impact of the 2024 Election 27:23 Sports and Other Popular Trading Categories 29:37 Ethics of Prediction Markets 33:33 User Behavior  37:55 Hot Takes and Future Trends 39:24 Social Currency Corner 46:24 How to Show Social Currency Some Love Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, Sammi breaks down all things Meadow Lane—the Tribeca grocery store that launched like a luxury fashion drop and spiraled into one of the most chaotic openings New York has seen in years. Founded by Sammy Nussdorf, the heir to a billion-dollar distribution empire, Meadow Lane was positioned as a bespoke, Manhattan-made answer to Erewhon. The result? A fandom of over 140,000 followers before the store even opened. But that hype came with consequences. During opening week, Meadow Lane faced a perfect storm of PR disasters—raw chicken nuggets, mislabeled chili that triggered an allergic reaction, viral snark about $750 caviar, and one very viral mouse. Sammi unpacks what Meadow Lane tells us about status-ification of food, TikTok consumerism, and whether grocery bags belong next to designer handbags.  Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Here’s what Sammi covers in today’s episode: 00:00 The Grocery Store That Became a Cultural Event 01:58 Who Is Sammy Nussdorf? 03:20 Building in Public: TikTok, Fandom, and Hype 06:17 Opening Week Chaos: Raw Nuggets, Allergies & The Mouse Video 07:53 Meadow Lane vs Erewhon 08:55 Food as a Modern Status Symbol 10:49 Sammi’s Predictions and Takeaway 12:01 How to Show Social Currency Some Love Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Building a beauty brand that celebrates Latin culture while competing on a global stage is no small feat—but for Babba Rivera, it’s not just business— it’s personal.  Babba founded Ceremonia to create a haircare brand rooted in Latin heritage, ritual, and community. Today, Ceremonia is one of the fastest-growing brands at Sephora, has raised over $11 million, and just took home an Allure Beauty Award. In this conversation, Babba shares how she built a company that’s as mission-driven as it is profitable—cutting marketing costs by half while still growing revenue—and what it really takes to lead a fast-scaling startup as a founder and mom of four. Babba also shares about her early days leading teams at Uber and Away, the power of saying no to investors who don’t get your vision, and why she believes the future of beauty is community-first, not celebrity-led.  Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Follow Ceremonia on Instagram Follow Babba on Instagram Here’s what Sammi covers with Babba: 00:00 Babba Rivera’s Social Currency 02:27 Growing Up Between Cultures 05:07 Early Beauty Rituals and Haircare Influences 07:00 Lessons from Uber 10:48 The Wild World of Away 13:11 From Marketing Agency to Beauty Brand 15:53 The Birth of Ceremonia 19:44 Navigating Funding During COVID-19 22:36 Direct to Consumer and Learning from Customers 27:00 Strategic Move to Credo 27:16 Scaling with Sephora 28:04 Challenges of Big Retailers 30:27 Allure Best of Beauty Award 33:46 Focus on Profitability 38:01 Representation in Beauty 45:11 Balancing Motherhood and Business 50:05 Daily Routines and Systems 53:31 How to Show Social Currency Some Love Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Celebrity brands never release their numbers — until now. Beauty brand e.l.f. didn’t just acquire Hailey Bieber’s Rhode… they published every single line item of the company’s P&L. From shockingly low cost of goods sold to a 9x marketing efficiency ratio, Sammi unpacks why Rhode operates more like a billion-dollar conglomerate than a three-year-old celebrity brand. You’ll hear the real story behind the billion-dollar headline, why e.l.f. revealed Rhode’s financials days before earnings, and how a temporary sales dip shook Wall Street. Then, Sammi explains the record-breaking Sephora launch, the risks Rhode faces with limited SKUs, and why Hailey’s personal involvement is the brand’s ultimate moat. Finally, Sammi zooms out: what Rhode teaches us about cultural capital, beauty economics, and the future of creator-led brands — plus how it all compares to Rihanna’s Fenty and the cautionary tales of celebrity beauty past. Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Here’s what Sammi covers today: 00:00 The e.l.f. Acquisition of Rhode 03:07 e.l.f.’s Unprecedented Financial Disclosure 03:44 Analyzing Rhode’s Financials 07:15 The Sephora Launch and Its Impact 08:17 Challenges and Future Prospects for Rhode 10:28 Comparing Rhode and Fenty 11:03 Future Predictions on Beauty Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many people say the healthcare system is broken. Julia Cheek, is trying to fix a key part of that system: diagnostics.  Julia is the founder and CEO of Everlywell, the pioneering at-home health testing company that turned diagnostics from something that happened to you into something you control. Since launching in 2015, Everlywell has become one of the fastest-growing companies in consumer health and has raised more than $200 million—proving that convenience, access, and empowerment aren’t just buzzwords—they’re the future of medicine.  In this conversation, Julia tells Sammi about the moment that inspired her to build Everlywell after her own frustrating lab experience, what really happens after a Shark Tank deal, and the split-second leadership calls she had to make during the pandemic when the company scaled almost overnight. She also shares what she’s betting on next—from the future of at-home diagnostics and biohacking, to how insurance needs to evolve for proactive healthcare to actually work.  Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter Explore Everlywell Here’s what Sammi covers today with Julia: 00:00 Julia Cheek’s Social Currency 01:42 The Lab Nightmare That Sparked Everlywell 04:18 Early Pushback—and Why Julia Built Anyway 08:47 BTS of Shark Tank 14:03 The Breakthrough Moment in Consumer Trust 18:55 Building a Team for Speed in Healthcare 21:37 Scaling Overnight During COVID 28:10 AI, Telehealth & The Future of Diagnostics 32:55 The Role of Insurance 44:17 Social Currency Corner: For Health Founders 48:30 How to Show Social Currency Some Love Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today Sammi unpacks the silent spectacle of The Row—Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s luxury label. Known for its “no logos, no advertising” ethos and a fiercely minimalist aesthetic, The Row has built its brand on mystique. But when a chaotic, viral sample sale hit New York this past October—drawing TikTok influencers and 9 hour+ lines—the brand’s carefully curated image suddenly looked less refined and more chaotic. Sammi breaks down The Row’s evolution from fashion-insider secret to full-blown cultural moment, dissects the breakup between The Row and their biggest fan, and asks: Can a brand built on exclusivity still grow without losing its identity? Or has The Row’s quiet luxury finally reached a volume it can’t turn down? Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Here’s what Sammi covers today: 00:00 The Row's Unique Luxury Approach 01:37 Early Days of The Row 04:21 The Row's Pricing Strategy and Market Impact 05:43 Sample Sale Insanity and 9 Hour Lines 07:22 The Breakup with Neelam Ahooja 10:05 The Future of The Row 12:27 How to Show Social Currency Some Love Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, Sammi sits down with Jaclyn Johnson and Marina Middleton—the powerhouse duo behind Create & Cultivate. Long before every brand wanted a “community,” Jaclyn and Marina built one that actually mattered: a movement where founders, Fortune 500 leaders, and creators came together to build what’s next. After selling the company in 2021, Jaclyn stunned the industry when she bought it back—this time with Marina stepping in as CEO. In this episode, they share what it’s really like to sell and then reclaim your life’s work, how they divide power and make decisions as co-leaders, and the tightrope walk of balancing exclusivity at scale. They also get candid about the future of community, what makes people actually show up in a post-pandemic world, and whether virtual events are officially over.  Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Explore all Create & Cultivate events like their Supper Clubs (ATX on 3/13/2026 and LA 9/17/2026), ATX ATX Future Summit on 3/15/26 The World's Largest Festival for Women in Business 9/19/26 & 9/20/26 Here’s what Sammi covers with Jacyln and Marina: 00:00 Jaclyn and Marina’s Social Currency 02:25 The Evolution of Create & Cultivate Events 03:22 The Importance of Providing Value 06:05 How to Scale Intimacy  09:29 Monetization Strategies and Balancing Accessibility and Profitability 13:55 Marina’s Secret Sauce for Pitching Brands 18:30 BTS of the Create and Cultivate Sale 23:09 Reacquiring Create and Cultivate 25:29 Marina's Origin Story as CEO  27:04 The Secret Weapon of Being the Face of Your Brand 33:10 How Marina and Jaclyn Lead Together 37:20 Social Currency Corner 40:33 How to Show Social Currency Some Love Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, Sammi uncovers one of the most iconic origin stories in tech: how a scrappy, chaotic startup from the late ’90s — PayPal — became the launchpad for a generation of founders who went on to build Tesla, LinkedIn, Yelp, Affirm, Palantir, SpaceX, and more.  Before they were billionaires or household names, Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, Reid Hoffman, Max Levchin, and the rest of the now-famous “PayPal Mafia” were just a band of stubborn twenty- and thirty-somethings coding through the night, fighting fraud in real time, burning millions a month, and trying to stay alive as the dot-com bubble exploded around them.  From a bitter rivalry between X.com and Confinity, to the explosive merger that created PayPal, to the legendary coup that ousted Musk while he was on his honeymoon, this episode charts the near-death moments, the brutal decisions, and the relentless ambition that forged Silicon Valley’s most influential alumni network. Sammi breaks down how their survival tactics became the blueprint for today’s startup culture — contrarian thinking, founder myth-making — and why the ripple effects of PayPal still shape tech more than two decades later.  Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Here’s what Sammi covers today: 00:00 The PayPal Origin Story 01:03 The X.com and Cofinity Rivalry  02:07 The PayPal Merger and Growth 02:38 16 Hour Work Days and Sleeping Under Decks 03:50 The Infamous Honeymoon Coup and Aftermath05:29 The PayPal Mafia Feature 08:23 The Legacy of the PayPal Mafia 11:33 How to Show Social Currency Some Love Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the world shut down, Marina and Ricardo Larroudé hit go. Out of their Manhattan apartment, the former Teen Vogue fashion director and her financier husband built Larroudé—a shoe brand that went from zero to millions in sales in just a few years. In this episode, Sammi dives into how they turned job loss into rocket fuel, built their own factory in Brazil, and reinvented the luxury e-commerce playbook with a direct-to-demand model that’s shaking up the mid-tier market. The Larroudés also talk about the wild world of RTV (return to vendor), the innovative way they’re using pre-orders to keep prices low, and why they’re bullish on Brazil. Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Follow Larroudé Check out the Candy Pratts Price collab 00:00 Marina and Ricardo Larroudé’s Social Currency 02:05 Losing Their Jobs and Starting a Shoe Brand 04:47 Making Product Development Personal 08:48 Quality and Customer Satisfaction in D2C 13:05 Bootstrapping Then Friends and Family Rounds  27:28 Wholesale Pre-Payment Financing Strategies  29:21 The Wild World of Return to Vendor (RTV) 36:11 Being Bullish on Brazil 39:49 The Innovative “Direct-to-Demand” Model 43:34 Defining the Mid-Tier Shoe Market 51:11 Managing High Return Rates in the Shoe Industry 53:04 How to Show Social Currency Some Love Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hollywood is changing—and its future might be vertical. Today, Sammi dives into the explosive rise of “microdramas,” the ultra-short, ultra-addictive scripted shows that are pulling in billions and leaving traditional studios scrambling to survive. From Chinese-backed apps like ReelShort to Hollywood execs betting on AI-powered storytelling, this is the story of how 90-second episodes are out-earning blockbuster films and redefining what it means to be a creator. Sammi breaks down the psychology, the business model, and what this all says about our shrinking attention spans and the algorithmic future of storytelling. Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  00:00 Microdramas, Big Plots 01:37 Microdramas vs. Traditional Hollywood 02:09 The Data Behind the Craze 05:14 YouTube vs. TikTok 07:22 The Business Model of Microdramas 10:30 Hollywood's Response  12:49 The Role of AI  17:07 Predictions on the Future of Entertainment 19:43 How to Show Social Currency Some Love Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gwen Whiting co-founded The Laundress, the luxury laundry brand that transformed washing clothes into a lifestyle statement. What started as a passion project funded by credit cards became a cult favorite—and eventually caught the attention of Unilever, which acquired the company for a reported $100 million. But the dream deal didn’t go as planned. In this episode, Sammi sits down with Gwen to unpack what happens after the acquisition headlines fade. They discuss the culture clash between indie entrepreneurship and corporate ownership, the painful unraveling of the brand following a massive product recall, and the gender dynamics that often shape who wins and who loses in big business. Gwen opens up about what it was like to watch her life’s work become a public crisis—and how she found the strength to start again. Today, she’s building her next act: The Fill, a home wellness company that blends her love of design, sustainability, and self-care. It’s a conversation about reinvention, resilience, and the real cost of success—and one that every founder, dreamer, or brand-builder needs to hear. Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Learn more about The Fill Here’s what Sammi covers with Gwen: 00:00 Gwen Whiting’s Social Currency  00:45 The Birth of a Premium Laundry Brand  02:42 Early Challenges of Scaling The Laundress  04:29 Innovating in a Stale Market  15:24 Scaling and Funding the Business  20:44 The Unilever Acquisition  28:27 Gender Bias in Acquisitions  29:04 Corporate Culture Clash  32:52 Product Recall and Acquisition Nightmares  42:22 Rebuilding and Innovating with The Fill  51:08 Kris Jenner’s Cleaning Line and Advice for Founders 55:24 How to Show Social Currency Some Love  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode is all about the billion dollar business built on a business model that defies every rule of traditional retail; they occupy buildings for just three months a year, hire around 50,000 seasonal workers, carry zero inventory for nine months, and somehow they're not just surviving— they are thriving. The business? Spirit Halloween, of course.  While most retailers are bleeding cash or shuttering entirely, Spirit has cracked the code on how to win in the age of e-commerce — by being deliberately temporary. Sammi unpacks how the brand turns ghost-town real estate into an asset, runs on a gig economy workforce, and creates an IRL experience that even Amazon can’t compete with. You’ll hear how Spirit’s seasonal strategy defies every traditional retail rule — and yet, earns over $1 billion annually. Plus, Sammi looks into the company’s bold new experiment: Spirit Christmas. Is it nostalgia or novelty fueling this growth? And what can other brands learn from Spirit’s spooky-smart playbook? Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Today, Sammi covers: 00:00 The Origin Story of Spirit Halloween 02:01 The Business Model Behind Spirit Halloween 02:36 The Seasonal Operations of Spirit Halloween 03:05 Real Estate Strategy 04:28 Inventory Management 04:53 The Workforce and Tear Down 05:53 The Billion Dollar Success 08:07 Spirit Christmas: A New Experiment 09:05 Lessons from Spirit Halloween 12:31 How to Show Social Currency Some Love Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In part two of her Restoration Hardware deep dive, Sammi pulls back the curtain on what’s really at the top of “Luxury Mountain.”  From the troubled Aspen expansion and RH’s sky-high ambitions in Europe, to eyebrow-raising governance decisions, failed ventures, and Warren Buffett’s very public goodbye— you have to wonder: is the RH foundation starting to crack? Sammi explores whether RH is still building the “LVMH of America” or if it’s become a masterclass in overreach, vanity projects, and vibes over fundamentals. Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Today, Sammi covers: 00:00 RH's Luxury Journey  01:11 Unveiling the Cracks in RH's Luxury Facade  03:10 International Expansion: A Grand Vision with Flaws  07:52 Warren Buffett's Exit: A Signal of Trouble  09:56 Legal Battles and Creative Controversies  12:20 Aspen Project: The Dream vs. Reality  14:13 Luxury Assets and Governance Issues  19:58 How to Show Social Currency Some Love The following content is based on publicly available information and includes personal opinions and analysis. It should not be interpreted as fact beyond what has been publicly reported, and it does not constitute investment advice. This podcast is not affiliated with or sponsored by any company mentioned. While all information is accurate to the best of the show’s knowledge at the time of recording, details may change after publication. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, Sammi delivers the most requested episode topic yet: the lore of Restoration Hardware and its CEO, Gary Friedman. Gary Friedman is part visionary, part provocateur and part illusionist. He is the CEO who took a nearly bankrupt furniture company and convinced Wall Street that it was building the LVMH of America. And for a while everyone believed him. In this first installment of her two-part deep dive, Sammi covers the brand's quirky beginnings in 1979, Gary's journey from folding jeans at The Gap to turning around Restoration Hardware, to his ambitious plans of positioning Restoration Hardware as a luxury powerhouse. What followed was an internal relationship at the company, a resignation, an IPO, and more. In the second episode, coming next week, Sammi pulls back the curtain on how the view from “Luxury Mountain” may not be what it seems. Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  00:00 Introduction to Restoration Hardware Lore 00:51 Disclaimer  02:35 The Origins of Restoration Hardware 03:46 Gary Friedman's Rise in Retail 05:54 Transforming Restoration Hardware 06:27 The True Crime Interlude 07:28 Rebranding and Supply Chain Innovations 10:22 The Gallery Store Concept 16:44 Operational Challenges and Solutions 20:43 Expanding Beyond Furniture 22:26 Financial Moves and Future Plans 25:04 What’s Next The following content is based on publicly available information and includes personal opinions and analysis. It should not be interpreted as fact beyond what has been publicly reported, and it does not constitute investment advice. This podcast is not affiliated with or sponsored by any company mentioned. While all information is accurate to the best of the show’s knowledge at the time of recording, details may change after publication. Restoration Hardware was not contacted for this piece. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Building something that lasts is rare. Building something that rewires an entire industry? That’s almost unheard of. But that’s exactly what Jim McKelvey did when he co-founded Square (now Block) with Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey.  Today, Jim and Sammi talk about how Square went head-to-head with Amazon and won, why Jim believes most startups don’t understand what real innovation looks like, and the surprising psychology behind a piece of tech being just difficult enough to capture attention. Plus, they dive into his more recent ventures, Invisibly and Fastrials, and what serving as an independent director at the Federal Reserve taught him about the intersection of policy and entrepreneurship. Plus, his hot take on— and role in— tipping culture. Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Here’s what Sammi covers with Jim: 00:00 Jim McKelvey’s Social Currency  01:17 How Square Evolved From A Personal Painpoint 02:37 That Time Jim Stripped in a Business Pitch 05:13 The Psychology of Attention in Business 19:50 How Square Beat Amazon 31:21 Understanding Human Behavior and Social Pressure 32:17 Lessons From Jim’s Time as a Federal Reserve Director 38:19 Why Invisibly Failed, Profitably  40:28 Jim’s Newest Venture and Revolutionizing Drug Trials 45:48 Advice for Entrepreneurs in Regulated Industries 53:33 Tipping Culture and FinTech Predictions 58:24 How to Show Social Currency Some Love Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices