The Kara Goldin Show

Turning activewear into technology that actually supports how you move — that’s the magic 🏃‍♀️✨
On The Kara Goldin Show, I sit down with Krystal Gillis, Founder and CEO of Tighties, a movement technology company redefining performance apparel through alignment, muscle activation, pain management, and movement support.
Krystal’s journey started long before Tighties. She founded and sold her first company at just 24, went on to work in the medical device world with companies including Abbott and Stryker, and later consulted on the launch of multiple companies, products, and a foundation. But it was while leading a product launch for an ort...

What if gifting actually felt thoughtful again?
On today’s episode, we welcome Rachel Solomon, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Boarderie — a company rethinking a category that hasn’t evolved much in decades. Instead of predictable gift baskets, Boarderie delivers fully arranged, premium cheese and charcuterie boards nationwide — designed to feel more like an experience than just another package.
Launched in 2021, the company didn’t just improve the model — it challenged it. And while legacy players are seeing slower growth, Boarderie is scaling quickly, staying profitable, and tapping into what consumers actually want today: something more personal, more elevated, an...

What if the future of skincare wasn’t about trends — but about real science and long-term skin health?
On today’s episode, we welcome Dr. Dhaval Bhanusali, board-certified dermatologist and co-founder of Elm Biosciences — a company combining in-office treatments with smarter at-home routines.
If you’re interested in understanding the science behind skincare, making better decisions for your skin, or staying ahead of where the industry is going — this one’s for you. Tune in now on The Kara Goldin Show.

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Turning skincare into ritual — and luxury into something deeply personal — that’s the magic ✨
On The Kara Goldin Show, I sit down with Lejla Cas, Founder of KNESKO Skin — a brand blending advanced skincare science with energetic wellness, intention, and self-care.
We talk about building a luxury beauty brand that goes beyond surface-level results, why longevity and skin barrier health are becoming such important conversations, and how Lejla turned an unconventional vision into a globally recognized brand used in luxury spas around the world. We also dive into the launch of KNESKO’s new Gold Repair Collection and the futu...

What if packing a warm, healthy lunch for your kids was actually simple?
On today’s episode, we welcome Nancy Yen, Founder and CEO of OMIE — a company rethinking how parents tackle everyday meals. After struggling to find a way to send her child to school with a warm, balanced lunch, Nancy set out to build what didn’t exist.
What started as a personal problem turned into years of prototyping, failed iterations, and persistence — ultimately leading to a category-defining product and a bootstrapped business that has scaled to tens of millions in revenue.
In this episode...

What if baby food actually prioritized vegetables first?
On today’s episode, we welcome Shibani Baluja, Founder and CEO of Lil' Gourmets — a company rethinking how we feed the next generation. After more than a decade at Kraft Foods, Shibani walked away to build what she couldn’t find: fresh, veggie-first meals designed to support early nutrition and lifelong healthy habits.
Now available nationwide in Whole Foods Market, Walmart, and more, Lil’ Gourmets is bringing globally inspired, organic meals to busy parents looking for better options.
In this episode, Shibani shares her journey from corporate to founder...

Turning a childhood favorite into something parents can actually feel good about — that’s the magic 🥣✨
On The Kara Goldin Show, I sit down with Margaret Wishingrad, Co-Founder and CEO of Three Wishes, the better-for-you cereal brand taking on one of the most legacy-dominated aisles in grocery.
Margaret started Three Wishes with her husband and co-founder, Ian, after becoming a parent and realizing how hard it was to find a cereal that kids loved — and parents trusted. No food manufacturing background. No easy roadmap. Just a big idea, a lot of grit, and the belief that cereal could be re...

On today’s episode, we welcome Michael Meyer, CEO of I and love and you — a leader who’s built his career spotting opportunities others overlook and turning them into category-defining brands.
From organic baby food to natural pet food, Michael has been at the center of major shifts in how consumers shop and what they expect. Now, he’s making a bold bet on one of the most underdeveloped spaces in the industry—premium cat food. With the recent acquisition of Made by Nacho and the addition of Bobby Flay as Chief Culinary Officer, Investor, and Board Member, th...

What does it take to turn fragrance into something you don’t just wear — but actually feel?
On today’s episode, we welcome Steve Sun, Founder and CEO of Biology Fragrances — a brand redefining scent as a daily ritual rooted in emotional well-being. With a background spanning design, media, and storytelling at companies like The Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros., and Paramount Pictures, Steve brings a unique lens to building brands that connect on a deeper level.
Raised between Taiwan and the United States, Steve’s early experiences with scent—from traditional remedies to everyday rituals—shaped his perspectiv...

On today’s episode, Kara welcomes Ryan Alovis, CEO of LensDirect — the family business he bought back and transformed into a leading, customer-first vision care brand.
Ryan shares how he took a struggling company and rebuilt it from the ground up — without outside capital — turning it into a trusted destination for contact lenses, eyewear, and innovative services like lens replacement and subscriptions. This episode dives into the discipline, resilience, and customer obsession required to scale the right way.

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On today’s episode, we sit down with Trip Randall, CEO of Superfeet — a brand most people don’t think about… but probably should.
Superfeet has been around for more than 50 years, originally built out of sports medicine and trusted by athletes who actually care about performance. But like a lot of legacy brands, it faced a question: stay relevant, or get left behind.
Trip didn’t found the company — he stepped into it after decades at Nike and Denon, bringing a different lens on growth, digital, and what consumers actually pay attention to. Now he’s focused on evo...

What happens when a personal health issue exposes a much bigger problem?
On today’s episode, we welcome Brian Keller, CEO and Co-Founder of Rorra — a brand rethinking how we access clean water. After struggling to find answers for his daughter’s severe eczema, Brian discovered the role contaminated water was playing — and it changed everything.
That moment led to Rorra — a company focused on high-performance, easy-to-use water filtration that removes PFAS, lead, microplastics, and more, without the need for plumbing. In a category that hasn’t evolved in decades, Rorra is bringing transparency, better technology, and a mission-fi...

Putting brain health at the center of women’s wellness — that’s the conversation 🧠✨
On The Kara Goldin Show, I sit down with Helen Christoni, Co-Founder of Make Time Wellness, a brand redefining women’s wellness by focusing on cognitive health, daily wellness habits, and science-backed support for the brain.
Helen’s journey started long before Make Time Wellness. A longtime wellness marketing executive and ultramarathoner, she spent years helping grow wellness brands while also navigating deeply personal experiences with dementia and mental health struggles within her own family. But through those experiences, she noticed a major gap she couldn’...

On today’s episode, we welcome Eric Ries, bestselling author of The Lean Startup and now Incorruptible — a new take on why good companies go bad, and what it actually takes to build one that doesn’t.
Eric has spent decades shaping how founders think about building companies. But this conversation goes beyond startups and into something bigger: what happens as companies scale, when pressure builds, incentives shift, and mission starts to drift. Because the reality is, most companies don’t fail overnight—they slowly lose their way.
In this episode, Eric breaks down the hidden forces that push...

On today’s episode, we welcome Blake Mycoskie, Founder of TOMS and Founder of We Are ENOUGH — a leader who helped redefine purpose-driven business, and is now asking a much deeper question: what if success isn’t the thing that makes you feel whole?
What started as a simple idea—pairing business with giving—turned into a global movement and a $650M brand that changed how companies think about impact. But behind that success was a much more personal journey, one that led Blake to confront his own struggles with identity, mental health, and the pressure to constantly achieve. N...

On today’s episode, Kara welcomes Julia Hartz, Co-Founder and former CEO of Eventbrite — the platform that has transformed how millions of people create, discover, and experience live events around the world.
Julia’s journey is a powerful blend of creativity, vision, and leadership. From her early career in media at MTV and FX to co-founding Eventbrite in 2006, she helped grow the company into one of the largest marketplaces for shared experiences — powering more than five million events annually and processing millions of tickets every week. Along the way, she built a company known not just for its scale, b...

On today’s episode, we welcome Stacey Fraser, Founder and CEO of Pink Chicken — a brand that proves you don’t need to overcomplicate things to build something meaningful. Sometimes, it starts with a needle, some fabric, and a point of view.
What began during nap-time sewing sessions for her daughters has turned into a multi-channel lifestyle brand with 400+ wholesale partners and a growing retail footprint. Not bad for something that wasn’t supposed to be a “business” at first.
In this episode, Stacey breaks down what it really takes to scale a brand rooted in creativity without sand...

On today’s episode, we welcome Monica Nassif, Founder of Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day and author of I Bottled My Mother — a brand that proves even the most overlooked categories can be completely reimagined if you’re willing to challenge what everyone else accepts as “good enough.”
What started as a simple idea—to make cleaning products that actually smelled good, felt good, and worked—turned into a category-defining brand that disrupted a $30 billion industry. Not bad for something most people never thought twice about.
In this episode, Monica breaks down what it really takes to see opportunity...

What does it take to start a company at 20 years old — and scale it into a platform used by tens of millions before selling it for hundreds of millions?
On today’s episode, we welcome David Rusenko, Founder and former CEO of Weebly — one of the earliest platforms to make it possible for anyone to build a website without coding. Long before “no-code” became a movement, David and his co-founders set out to simplify the internet for small businesses and entrepreneurs. After joining Y Combinator in its early days, they built Weebly into a company with over 350 employees, hundreds o...

On today’s episode, we welcome Allyson Mandelbaum, Founder & CEO of Shady Lady — a women’s hat brand redefining fit, function, and confidence by designing hats specifically made for women. After spending over 20 years as a reality TV producer, Allyson made a bold career pivot at 40 to solve a problem she personally experienced: hats simply didn’t fit women properly. What started as a frustration turned into a mission-driven brand focused on better design, comfort, and helping women feel confident in what they wear.
In this episode, Allyson shares what it’s like to start over later in your caree...

On today’s episode, we welcome Melisse Shaban, CEO of Aramore — a longevity science company redefining how we approach aging through cellular health. With decades of experience building and scaling science-driven brands, Melisse is now leading Aramore at the intersection of biotech, skincare, and supplements, with a mission to move beyond surface-level beauty and address aging at its source.
In this episode, Melisse breaks down the science behind NAD+ and why it’s becoming such a powerful conversation in both wellness and skincare. She shares what most people misunderstand about aging, how to separate real innovation from marketing hype...

Can one personal frustration — and a simple question — actually lead to changing an entire industry standard?
On today’s episode, we welcome Bryan Boches, CEO and Co-Founder of Safe Catch — the only seafood company in the world that tests every single fish for mercury. What started as a deeply personal moment — when Bryan’s pregnant wife was told to eliminate tuna from her diet due to mercury concerns — quickly turned into a much bigger realization: why wasn’t anyone solving this problem at scale?
Instead of accepting the status quo, Bryan set out to fix it. After developing break...

Can personal safety evolve from a reactive alert system into a proactive, AI-driven platform — and reshape how we think about independence and care?
On today’s episode, we welcome Chia-Lin Simmons, CEO of LogicMark — a company transforming from a traditional medical alert provider into a modern, connected care platform built around prevention, prediction, and everyday peace of mind. LogicMark is redefining what it means to feel safe, combining wearable devices, mobile apps, and AI-powered insights to support not just seniors, but anyone seeking greater control over their personal safety.
As the population ages and millions of families naviga...

Can you take a clean beauty brand built on accessibility — and evolve it into a global “everyday luxury” powerhouse without losing what made it special?
On today’s episode, we welcome Michael Marquis, CEO of Raw Sugar Living — the personal care brand known for bringing clean, high-quality products to the masses at an accessible price point. With more than 30 years of experience across global consumer giants like Johnson & Johnson — where he led iconic brands including Listerine, Clean & Clear, and OGX — Michael brings a unique combination of operational discipline and brand-building expertise to Raw Sugar’s next chapter.
Since joining th...

Can you really reinvent a category as established as iced tea — and scale to 15,000+ doors in just a few years?
On today’s episode, we welcome Brad Neumann, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Saint James Iced Tea — one of the fastest-growing brands in the ready-to-drink beverage space. Launched in 2022, Saint James is bringing a fresh perspective to a legacy category with organic ingredients, low-to-no sugar formulations, and bold, modern branding designed for today’s consumer.
With a background at Red Bull and Anheuser-Busch — where he became one of the youngest Directors — Brad brings deep industry experience to the table, along...

What if the grocery store wasn’t just a place to shop — but an experience designed around quality, hospitality, and trust?
On today’s episode, we welcome Marc Jonna, Co-Founder and President of Plum Market — the specialty grocery chain redefining what a premium food experience can be. A third-generation grocer, Marc grew up in the business, stepping into leadership of his family’s seven-store operation at just 19 before it was acquired by Whole Foods in 1998. After serving on Whole Foods’ national leadership team, Marc and his brother Matt set out to build something different — launching Plum Market in 2007 as a deliberat...

On today’s episode, I welcome Pam Sherman, Author of the new book Play You: The Role of a Lifetime — Bridge the Believability Gap to Boost Confidence, Connection, and Impact. Pam is an actor, leadership consultant, and President of The ShermanEDGE who has spent her career helping leaders ignite audiences with who they truly are. A former lawyer turned professional actor — a transition profiled in People Magazine — Pam now works with Fortune 50 companies and global leadership organizations, including YPO, EO, and Vistage, guiding leaders to communicate with greater authenticity and impact.
In Play You, Pam introduces the concept of the “...

What does it take to build a modern luxury brand — without outside funding — and still grow at triple-digit rates?
On today’s episode, we welcome Kevin Keller, Co-Founder of Fulton & Roark — the American fine fragrance brand redefining how fragrance is designed, experienced, and sold. Launched in 2013 with just $11,000 and no outside investment, Kevin and his co-founder Allen Shafer set out to create products that felt more personal, practical, and modern — starting with their now-signature solid fragrance, a portable alternative to traditional sprays.
Since then, Fulton & Roark has grown into a nationally distributed brand carried in hundreds of retail loc...

On today’s episode, we welcome Jash Mehta, Co-Founder & CEO of Pop & Bottle — a plant-based latte brand redefining what ready-to-drink coffee, matcha, and tea can look like when clean ingredients and real flavor come first. Inspired by California’s farm-to-table culture and a desire to eliminate mystery ingredients and refined sugars from her daily latte ritual, Jash began experimenting in her apartment with the goal of creating something better. What started as a personal solution has grown into a national brand carried by major retailers across the U.S.
In this episode, Jash shares what it takes to build...

On today’s episode, we welcome Robbie Salter, Co-Founder of Jupiter — the clinically proven, salon-grade scalp care brand redefining how dandruff is treated. What started as a personal frustration during an intense period of work stress led Robbie to discover that the dandruff category hadn’t meaningfully evolved in decades. Most products forced consumers to choose between efficacy and experience — outdated drugstore formulas that worked but felt embarrassing, or premium haircare that looked good but didn’t actually treat the condition. Jupiter was created to bridge that gap.
Through extensive consumer research and early demand testing, Robbie and his Co-fou...

On today’s episode, we welcome David Rabie, Founder and CEO of Tovala — the smart oven and chef-prepared meal service transforming how people cook and eat at home. What started as an idea while David was earning his MBA at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business has grown into a category-defining business that combines food, software, and hardware to make fresh meals easier than ever. With a simple scan of a QR code, Tovala’s countertop smart oven automatically cooks chef-prepared meals using thousands of tested cook combinations — eliminating the need for planning, chopping, or cleanup.
Inspired...

On today’s episode, we welcome Kahh Spence, Founder and CEO of Samir Grey — a luxury fragrance and personal care brand rooted in family, legacy, and emotional connection. After more than a decade shaping culture as a celebrity hairstylist and image architect for artists including Cardi B, Kelly Rowland, Normani, and Victoria Monét, Kahh stepped into a new chapter: building a brand of his own grounded in storytelling, representation, and self-expression.
Samir Grey was born from something deeply personal. Inspired by the women who raised him, the brand redefines modern luxury as an accessible act of self-love — offerin...

On today’s episode, we welcome Meredith Mills-Merritt, Founder and CEO of The Original Southside — the premium gin-based ready-to-drink cocktail brand redefining what “clean” and “craft” mean in the spirits industry.
Inspired by her mom Leah’s beloved gin, lemonade, and mint summer cooler, Meredith transformed a nostalgic family recipe into a fast-growing national brand. With a background in prestige beauty, she approached beverage the way few founders do — with precision around formulation, ingredient transparency, and sensory experience. The result is a 10% ABV cocktail made with certified organic, vegan, gluten-free ingredients, sweetened with 100% sugarcane, and crafted with a proprietary gin...

On today’s episode, we welcome Lauren Stephens, Co-Founder of Dudley Stephens — the cult-favorite apparel brand redefining everyday essentials and making the turtleneck cool again. What began as a reimagined fleece silhouette has grown into a beloved, functional-yet-fashionable brand known for timeless design, versatility, and effortless polish.
In this conversation, Lauren shares how focusing on one iconic piece helped build a loyal following, why simplicity can be a powerful differentiator in a crowded fashion market, and what it takes to scale thoughtfully without chasing trends. We talk about building a brand with family, balancing function and fashion, creating ward...

On today’s episode, Kara welcomes Andy Freed, author of the new book Lead Like the Boss. With more than 30 years of experience leading organizations through growth and transformation, Andy has built his career around a powerful belief: communication isn’t just part of leadership — it is leadership. From coaching CEOs to guiding global coalitions — and serving as Chairman of the Board at Virtual, Inc. — Andy has seen firsthand that strategy succeeds or fails based on how well leaders communicate.
In Lead Like the Boss, Andy challenges leaders to rethink how they show up in moments that matter. Drawing in...

On today’s episode, we welcome Bobby Bitton, Co-Founder & CEO of O Positiv Health — the women’s wellness brand on a mission to turn taboo into mainstream conversation. Inspired by his sister’s struggle with severe PMS and backed by his training as a Stanford nutritionist, Bobby helped launch the first-ever PMS gummy and build what is now the #1 women’s health brand on Amazon, with over 25 million bottles sold.
In our conversation, Bobby shares how O Positiv scaled from a bold DTC idea into a national retail powerhouse, why humor and authenticity can coexist with science and credibilit...

On today’s episode, we welcome Dr. Nayan Patel, Founder of Auro Wellness — the science-driven wellness and skincare brand centered on the power of topical glutathione, often called the body’s “master antioxidant.” A pharmacist with more than 30 years of experience in advanced biochemistry, Dr. Patel has dedicated his career to understanding how oxidative stress impacts the body and how to support cellular health more effectively.
In this conversation, we explore why glutathione plays such a critical role in detoxification, energy, and healthy aging — and why traditional delivery methods often fall short. Dr. Patel shares the science behind Auro’s paten...

On today’s episode, Kara welcomes Vy Nguyen, Co-CEO of Avocado Green Brands and Founder of Brentwood Home — a leader building one of the most recognized names in organic, non-toxic mattresses and sustainable home goods.
Vy’s entrepreneurial journey began in 2010 when he launched Brentwood Home with his own capital, focused on wellness, craftsmanship, and vertical integration. In 2018, he helped bring Brentwood Home together with Avocado to form Avocado Green Brands — creating a unified company built around transparency, long-term thinking, and products designed to be better for people and the planet. Today, Avocado has become a trusted name for cons...

On today’s episode, we welcome Sunny Beutler, CEO of Sunrider International — the global wellness company founded by her parents in 1982 and known as the Original Herbal Wellness & Beauty Experts. After beginning her career in law, Sunny stepped into the family business and now leads the 40+ year-old brand as it blends ancient Eastern herbal traditions with modern Western science across nearly 50 countries.
In this episode, Sunny shares what it takes to re-energize a legacy company while honoring its roots, how she balances family dynamics in business, and why holistic wellness is more relevant than ever. We also discuss lead...

On today’s episode, we welcome Hannah Barnstable, CEO & Co-Founder of Seven Sundays — the certified B Corp breakfast brand on a mission to flip the cereal aisle on its head. What began as a farmer’s market side hustle after Hannah left her investment banking career has grown into one of the largest natural cereal brands in the U.S., now found in Whole Foods, Sprouts, Costco, Target, and more.
Inspired by a honeymoon discovery of real muesli in New Zealand, Hannah set out to prove that breakfast could be made with 100% real ingredients — no refined sugars, artificial flavors...