Womansplain

Erin Barrett was a systems engineering major who pivoted into consulting for the free Starbucks, landed at McKinsey during the 2020 food tech boom, and then got so sick from COVID that it completely rewired her relationship with food and health. By the time she got to Stanford GSB, she was serving experimental cocktails out of mason jars through her dorm room window, and Goldilocks was born.

In this episode, Erin gets into why the canned cocktail market is more broken than most people realize (hint: your favorite Aperol Spritz has as much sugar as a soda), how...

Dr. Mia Wiston is a licensed clinical psychologist, solo practice owner, and the creator behind @dishingdaily, a food and lifestyle account with 147K followers that she built while seeing patients from her Lower East Side apartment. This is her first podcast ever.

In this episode, Mia gets real about what it's actually like to run two businesses from your living room, why she rebranded from her beloved "Lower East Side" handle to Dishing Daily, how she uses Instagram Q&As to break down the stigma around therapy, and the ethical tightrope of having patients follow your food...

Emily Steele went from running neighborhood revitalization projects in Des Moines, Iowa to building pop-up yoga brands, leading FemCity Des Moines into the most successful chapter in the U.S., and launching her own marketing agency, Love Local. Somewhere along the way, she realized the most powerful marketing tool wasn't a billboard — it was a neighbor telling a neighbor. Now she's the CEO and co-founder of Hummingbirds, a creator economy platform that's turned 40,000+ everyday people into brand ambassadors for companies like Olipop, Goodles, and MUSH — across 40+ cities and counting. Oh, and she raised $13M in venture capital. From Iowa. And...

Kendall Kransdorf left her strategy career at Boston Consulting Group, detoured through the startup world, and bet everything on a hunch that cottage cheese deserved a glow-up. Now she's the founder and CEO of Cotto, a high-protein whipped cottage cheese dip brand she's building from the ground up in New York City — and we mean from the ground up. She's making every batch, hand-stickering every container, and meeting customers in parks after dark.

In this episode, Kendall gets into why she always had the "end in mind" but still wasn't fully prepared for the reality of solo fo...

Season 5 is here, and we're kicking off our health & wellness season with a bang!

Samantha Mashaal went from McKinsey to Arianna Huffington's Chief of Staff to an existential career crisis to sliding into a fitness founder's Instagram DMs. Two and a half years later, she's the COO of Soto Method, the Tribeca-born workout brand expanding to Dallas this fall.

In this episode, Sam gets real about what it actually feels like to not know what's next, why she treats her career like dating, the art of giving feedback on all-women teams, and how she learned...

Season 5 is here, and we're kicking off our health & wellness season with a bang!

Samantha Mashaal went from McKinsey to Arianna Huffington's Chief of Staff to an existential career crisis to sliding into a fitness founder's Instagram DMs. Two and a half years later, she's the COO of Soto Method, the Tribeca-born workout brand expanding to Dallas this fall.

In this episode, Sam gets real about what it actually feels like to not know what's next, why she treats her career like dating, the art of giving feedback on all-women teams, and how she learned...

Natalie Borowski is the founder and chef behind Sailor & Siren, a Brooklyn-based seafood brand bringing fresh Maine lobster to NYC. She is also the founder of OGC, a community for women in the venture ecosystem, and serves on the board of Naturally New York and the junior board of the Bronx Letters Foundation.Unable to find a lobster roll in NYC that met her standards after a decade of searching, Natalie launched Sailor & Siren in the summer of 2025. Her passion for food and community fuel the brand's soul, virality, and loyal following.Previously, Natalie worked as an investor at...

From Finance to Food, Lily Rivkin Friend founded Rooted, a fast-casual NYC-based restaurant, ‘rooted’ in the values of simplicity and transparency. With every item on the menu crafted with 7 ingredients or less, Rooted instills confidence and trust in their consumers through ingredient transparency. Lily has gained over 40k+ followers on social by through filming BTS style content, giving consumers an inside look to the making of Rooted and what it's really like owning and operating a restaurant. Prior to Rooted, she worked at Citigroup in the sales and trading division and as in New Verticals/Products at Via, a tran...

Bridgette Taylor is the Founder and CEO of Harridan Vodka. A whiskey and mezcal enthusiast, Bridgette sought to buck vodka's reputation as "neutral and flavorless", and instead create a spirit that captured the sweet and smoky tasting notes so celebrated in other categories. Since launching in 2020, Harridan has garnered accolades including "Best Vodka" honors from Rolling Stone, Robb Report, and Esquire, while also broadening the industry’s perception of both vodka and women-owned spirits.Before founding Harridan, Bridgette spent nearly a decade in the fashion, retail, and luxury goods industries, holding roles at Valentino and Stuart Weitzman. She began he...

Judy Thelen is the co-founder and CEO of Beli, a restaurant discovery app built around the joy of remembering where you’ve eaten and sharing it with others. What started as a personal habit of ranking restaurants with friends during business school at Harvard has grown into a beloved platform used by millions, especially among Gen Z diners. Drawing on her background in investment analysis at McKinsey & Company, Judy has built Beli around a simple idea: food is better when it’s social, and the best recommendations come from people you trust.

Nirupa is the founder and chef behind Bazaar Supper Club, a monthly dinner series she runs out of her Brooklyn apartment. What began as a tiny communal dinner party in her studio apartment has turned into a sold-out supper club creating third spaces in New York. She has hosted 28 dinners to date, all built around a simple truth - food tastes better when it brings people together.

Gabriela Lawrence is the Cofounder and Chief Brand Officer at Doce Mezcal. Before launching the brand she ran a boutique public relations & talent consultancy in New York City working with companies across CPG, fashion, beauty, fitness & hospitality. As a self-identifying strategic and creative connector of the dots, Gabriela's range of PR experience has allowed her to create strategies for lifestyle brands providing them with a 360- approach of media relations, brand positioning, events, partnerships, sales, influencer relations and more. Gabriela leads with connection, creativity, and curiosity bringing forth innovative and on-the-pulse methods needed to grow a dynamic brand in...

Halli comes with over 10 years of experience working at some of NYC's fastest-growing startups. She started her career at Casper, where she worked on the Customer Experience Operations team, overseeing their 50-person call center. From there, she moved to Chief and supported the growth of their member base from 1,000 to 20,000 members. In her free time, you can find Halli strolling around her Brooklyn neighborhood, eating and drinking at new and classic spots. Shelby is a growth-driven sales and marketing leader with over 12 years of experience building and energizing world-class brands. She began her career on the brand side with...

Dabah was founded by mother and daughter team Marion Sultan and Noémi Moritz, two creatives whose lives have always been shaped by food, family, and storytelling.Born and raised in Paris, Marion moved to New York more than 30 years ago, where she quickly faced two challenges: finding work and finding good food. Far from home, she turned to the kitchen as her anchor, recreating the dishes her mother and grandmother made. These recipes carried the warmth, comfort, and connection of family meals. Throughout her career as an independent creative, Marion moved fluidly between roles as a graphic designer, d...

Ana Lander is the co-founder and CEO of Pikora, a food innovation company reimagining bone broth through Latin American flavors and traditions. Born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, Ana grew up surrounded by food and hospitality, often watching her mother cook and bring people together through meals.Before launching Pikora, Ana spent nearly a decade working in media and hospitality, where she honed her skills in storytelling, brand building, and connecting with audiences through culture. After moving to Los Angeles, she set out to create a brand that bridges her two worlds, Latin roots and American lifestyle, making bone...

Jordan Wannemacher is an award-winning graphic designer and entrepreneur who co-founded SaladSprinkles, an innovative CPG brand, with her best friend from art school in 2023. The venture represented a natural convergence of her passions for food and packaging design, and was an exciting laboratory for creativity. Born, raised, and art school educated in the Southeast, Jordan now calls Brooklyn, NY home, where she runs Studio Jordan Wannemacher, a boutique graphic design studio specializing in book design, publication design, and other printed products. With over thirteen years of design experience across cookbooks, branding, novel covers, and product packaging, Jordan has held...

Sourmilk is a NYC-based Greek yogurt designed specifically for your gut. Founded by two best friends who met at Stanford, Elan and Kiki are on a mission to heal America’s gut through real whole foods. Sourmilk has all the probiotic benefits of a supplement but in the form of a thick and creamy dairy yogurt packed with protein and healthy fats.

Cristina is the Co-founder and COO of INDAY, where she has played a pivotal role in shaping the brand, operations, and team since joining in 2016. Under her leadership, INDAY has expanded to multiple locations across New York, creating a cohesive and vibrant dining experience that celebrates bright and beautiful Indian-inspired cuisine. Cristina oversees strategy, operations, and people, focusing on fostering a culture of excellence and growth.

Before INDAY, Cristina worked as a Management Consultant at The Bridgespan Group, where she partnered with nonprofits and foundations to help them scale their impact. Her work laid the foundation for...

Julia O'Mara is the Co-founder and COO of Pickle, the peer-to-peer rental marketplace making it easy and affordable to rent high-quality clothing and accessories within communities and beyond. With expertise in business and product engineering, Julia identified a gap in modern commerce and built a first-of-its-kind platform that democratizes fashion access and promotes circularity. In less than a year, Pickle cultivated a thriving community, circulating 100,000+ items from 2,000+ coveted brands, fueling lucrative side hustles, and introducing a new way to shop. Under Julia’s leadership, Pickle’s growth has skyrocketed—it now rents more in a week than in its entire...

Bénédicte King is a runner, storyteller, and entrepreneur who has lived many lives. From working at the World Bank and the UN to becoming a yoga instructor, model, and now embarking on a new chapter as her own boss, Bénédicte thrives on bold pivots. Trained in international development and diplomacy, she has lived in over eight countries, speaks five languages, and spent six years as a communications strategist in global organizations.In 2022, after experiencing severe burnout, she took a sabbatical and turned to running as a form of healing. What began as a coping mechanism quic...

Heather Chan is the co-founder and CEO of Moonbow, a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) inspired skincare brand on a mission to harmonize skin and spirit. Raised in Hong Kong, Heather grew up immersed in Asia’s rich beauty traditions, where skincare was a daily ritual shaped by TCM principles. With a strong foundation in operations, Heather spent seven years in private equity before launching Moonbow in 2024. Her private equity career specialized in mid-market buyouts and institutional fundraising, giving her deep expertise in market analysis, brand development, and strategic growth. Known for her entrepreneurial drive, Heather also championed startups across fa...

Selina is the cofounder of ⁠gymii.ai⁠, an AI-powered nutrition app that makes tracking effortless and fun. With just a photo, gymii breaks down the nutritional content of any meal, while transforming the experience through a social feed, fun facts, and gamified features that make nutrition tracking feel more like a game than a chore.Since its launch in March, gymii has rapidly gained traction, with over a thousand early users and 9 professional athletes, including 3 Olympians, joining as brand ambassadors. Before founding gymii, Selina worked as a quant researcher at JPMorgan. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics with m...

Sophia Cheng is the founder and CEO of Oddball. Currently based in New York, she grew up in Singapore and Hong Kong, where she was used to eating local and fresh fruits all the time. When she got to the US, she noticed the issues plaguing today’s snack industry. Before founding Oddball, she joined Bridgewater Associates, working for Ray Dalio at the Dalio Family Office & Dalio Foundation, and was the youngest ever director at Estee Lauder as part of the CEO's strategic initiatives team.

Delia Hughes is the co-founder of Tazzy, a women-owned sweets company crafting indulgent, bite-sized cookies made with ingredients the founders love—conveniently packaged in pre-portioned sizes. Tazzy launched five years ago in the hard candy category and pivoted to baked goods in the past year. Before founding Tazzy, Delia built a diverse career in the food industry—working on yogurt innovation at Danone, driving business development in specialty cheese importing, and working as a cheese buyer for Sam's Club. She holds both an MBA and a Bachelor's in Food Science from Cornell University, where she continues to mentor students in t...

Imane is the founder of Kise — a clean, contemporary hot sauce made with premium African superfoods and bold flavors crafted to spark joy and excitement into any meal. Frustrated by the lack of nutritious, clean, (truly) flavorful, versatile, and culturally representative options on grocery shelves, she set out to change the narrative — bringing African heritage into every meal. As an ex-MBB consultant and tech exec, marathon runner, and wellness advocate who’s lived in 7 countries and speaks 4 languages, she leverages her multicultural background and holistic approach to disrupt the condiment aisle with products that nourish, excite, and empower. Through a dire...

Ilay Karateke is the co-founder and CEO of BEZI—that makes labneh, a Mediterranean dairy dip, in plain, everything, and red pepper flavors. BEZI launched in September 2024, retail first—starting with local favorite grocery stores in NYC.. BEZI dreams of making labneh a thing here in the US.She is an Istanbul-raised, New York-based, ex-McKinsey consultant turned labneh lady. She grew up in a large family, with their lives punctuated by big family-style meals shared with friends and neighbors. Labneh was ever-present in her upbringing, alongside homemade breads and seasonal produce.Once she moved to New York, Ilay longed for...

Maddie recently took the leap to launch Steer, the first affiliate marketing platform built specifically for consumer services—think ShopMy or LTK, but for experiences like fitness studios, wellness services, hospitality, and live events. Through Steer, creators can share their favorite experiences with followers, while brands can easily track performance, offer perks, and pay commissions—making it seamless for both sides to collaborate and drive sales.While this is Maddie’s first time as a founder, she’s no stranger to the world of startups and business building. She was one of the earliest employees at Bumble while still in colle...

Veronica Panzardi is the founder of edggies, a veggie brand making it radically easier to eat your vegetables with USDA organic kale sprinkles. After 4.5 years in investment banking, Veronica launched edggies veggies to support busy professionals—especially women like herself—who want to eat better without overhauling their routines. With a background in corporate hustle and a passion for food systems, she’s on a mission to fight food waste and make nutrition feel effortless.

Aurelia (Ray) Biebuyck is the founder of Hurray, a Los Angeles-based beverage company known for its flagship product, Girl Beer—a playful brand challenging traditional gender norms in the beer industry. Launched in 2024, Girl Beer has quickly gained traction across Southern California, securing distribution in Whole Foods and BevMo stores. Before founding Hurray, Biebuyck served as Director of Operations at Shacksbury (2020–2022), was an Associate in Strategy at WeWork (2018–2020), and began her career as an Investment Banking Analyst at JPMorgan Chase & Co. (2017–2018). A graduate of NYU's Stern School of Business, she leveraged her extensive experience in operations, strategy, and finance to creat...

Riddhima Kapoor is the founder of Veggie Vice, a vegetable chip brand made with simply dried vegetables and seasonings. She's on a mission to make veggies your new vice. After starting her career in investment banking and spending 6 years in startups, Riddhima launched Veggie Vice to offer a simple, guilt-free snack option that makes it easy to enjoy a savory snack that delivers on flavor and nutrition.

Riddhima Kapoor is the founder of Veggie Vice, a vegetable chip brand made with simply dried vegetables and seasonings. She's on a mission to make veggies your new vice. After starting her career in investment banking and spending 6 years in startups, Riddhima launched Veggie Vice to offer a simple, guilt-free snack option that makes it easy to enjoy a savory snack that delivers on flavor and nutrition.

Negotiating for a raise or promotion can feel daunting, especially for women navigating workplace biases. Brooke and Sola break down actionable strategies to get what you deserve—balancing warmth and assertiveness, preparing with data, and negotiating beyond salary. Tune in to learn how to advocate for your value and tackle compensation talks with confidence!

Dive into the biggest beauty trends of 2025 with Brooke and Sola! From fragrance layering and K-beauty innovations to the return of glam makeup and the rise of men’s grooming, Womansplain unpacks what’s shaping this dynamic industry. Tune in for insights, tips, and inspiration!

This episode is a must-listen for anyone feeling stuck in a corporate job and afraid to take the leap toward something new. Kiki's story is a powerful source of inspiration and courage.

Kirsten (Kiki) recently jumped ship to co-found Beny Yogurt, a high-protein, low-carb yogurt packed with the probiotic benefits of a supplement—no pills required. And the best part? It tastes amazing. Though this is Kiki's first foray into the food CPG space (prior she worked in private equity at Alpine Investors), it is by no means a surprise to anyone who knows her. Kiki grew up...

Anna is a dating coach and matchmaker based in NYC helping people globally overcome their dating obstacles to meet high-quality matches for long-term relationships. As seen on Good Morning America, Nightline, and Bravo, Anna uses her decade of experience to give real advice on how to get offline and meet people in real life again. Her love for the dating industry started with helping her friends for years to ditch the bad boys and start dating more intentionally. With several marriages under her belt, Anna began coaching and matchmaking to create a safe place for both men and women...

In this episode of Womansplain, Brooke and Sola tackle the complex world of women’s health, fertility, and reproductive rights. From the rise of egg freezing and IVF fueled by corporate benefits to the challenges returning mothers face in workplace culture, they explore the intersection of technology, societal pressures, and systemic gaps. They also discuss the paradox of expanding fertility options amid threats to reproductive rights and emphasize the need for broader solutions—paid family leave, affordable childcare, and flexible work policies. Tune in to learn how empowering women’s choices is not just a moral issue but a busine...

Nathalia Rojas is the co-founder of 2FIT Brands, a company dedicated to crafting vegan, keto, and gluten-free snacks without sugar alcohols or palm oil. Led by two minority women, Nathalia, and her co-founder and sister-in-law Marcela Charry, 2FIT Brands is committed to delivering quality snacks that meet a variety of dietary needs, with a strong emphasis on health-conscious ingredients. 2FIT Brands journey began in her kitchen, inspired by her background as a competitive gymnast, Zumba instructor, and health and wellness enthusiast. Nathalia and Marcela are reshaping the snack industry by providing mindful, nutritious options.

In this episode of Womansplain, Brooke and Sola explore the fascinating stories behind luxury icons Veuve Clicquot, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Nordstrom. From Barbe-Nicole’s revolutionary champagne innovations to Louis Vuitton’s game-changing travel trunks, Gucci’s high-fashion drama, and Nordstrom’s evolution amid retail challenges, each brand showcases resilience, creativity, and adaptability. Discover how these powerhouses transformed their industries and continue to define modern luxury.

In this episode of Womansplain, Brooke and Sola dive into the rise of fashion unicorns The Row and Rare Beauty. From The Row’s understated luxury and Chanel-backed exclusivity to Rare Beauty’s celebrity-driven authenticity and inclusivity, these brands exemplify resilience, innovation, and strategic growth. Discover how they’ve redefined modern fashion and beauty, capturing billion-dollar valuations and reshaping their industries.

In this episode of Womansplain, Brooke and Sola explore the fascinating stories behind luxury icons Veuve Clicquot, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Nordstrom. From Barbe-Nicole’s revolutionary champagne innovations to Louis Vuitton’s game-changing travel trunks, Gucci’s high-fashion drama, and Nordstrom’s evolution amid retail challenges, each brand showcases resilience, creativity, and adaptability. Discover how these powerhouses transformed their industries and continue to define modern luxury.