Girlboss Radio With Sophia Amoruso

Born in Toronto and based in Brooklyn, Aurora James dreamed up the idea for her crush-worthy shoe brand, Brother Vellies, while backpacking through Africa. She travels the globe designing, creating and sustaining artisanal jobs in Africa by employing cooperatives of women who specialize in shoemaking with natural materials. Through her work she’s learned a thing or two about collaboration, tradition, and personal development... and she’ll share that with us today. 

On today’s episode of Girlboss Radio, Sophia sits down with Leandra Medine Cohen, the hilarious mastermind behind Man Repeller, a community and content hub she affectionately refers to as a nudist community. What follows is an some of the most poignant, powerful advice you could get—about going with your gut, rebelling against singular definitions, life as an "influencer," and probably plotting world domination. It's ours for the taking, right? 

Last July, Gretchen Carlson came forward with her experience of being sexually harassed at FOX News by then-CEO, the late Roger Ailes. Her story is one that's all too familiar for many women. Most recently, we’ve seen it in the spate of “me too” stories that have come out following the allegations of assault, harassment, and abuse against Harvey Weinstein—and so many other men in positions of power. Today, Carlson joins us to discuss her new book Be Fierce (which surfaces similar stories from women in all walks of life across the country), speak frankly about Donald Trump, and walk you through what you should do if you are being harassed in the workplace. 

Jen Gotch is a creative powerhouse who loves yard sales and unicorns. After a long (and winding) journey trying her hand at a slew of not-so-great jobs that led her to where she is today, she’s now the chief creative officer and fearless leader of ban.do. On today’s episode, Jen talks about tapping into her creative power and finding the strength push through her bad days. 

On this episode of Girlboss Radio, we're joined by Garance Doré, founder of Atelier Doré. She and Sophia go to a wide-open, vulnerable place about what it's like to work in fashion—and why Fashion Week doesn't feel worth it anymore. They have a frank discussion about fertility, PTSD after IVF, therapy, burnout, and finding purpose. Ahead, a moving conversation that will make you think. 

Jennifer Rudolph Walsh is a wife, mother and superstar publisher who sits on the Board of Directors at famed talent agency WME. By day, she does all that and works with some of the most famous writers in the world—like Oprah Winfrey, Sue Monk Kidd, and Arianna Huffington—but in her spare time, she's building a pretty impressive side hustle called Together Live. She's passionate about helping women become architects of change in their own lives, and on this episode, she goes deep on how she found her own purpose, and changed her life to fit it. Plus, she's got some essential, actionable advice every aspiring author should hear.​

Whitney Cummings joins Sophia to discuss her latest bookI'm Fine and Other Lies; a memoir about being diagnosed as co-dependent, . Along the way, she blends hilarious anecdotes with thought provoking commentary on feminism, sex and body dysmorphia. 

A true fire-starter, Janet Mock uses her voice to dismantle stereotypes, push women to discover their power, and debunk assumptions about gender. Janet’s latest book, Surpassing Certainty: What My Twenties Taught Me, is an homage to her 20s. On this episode of Girlboss Radio, Sophia and Janet explore identity, culture, and the experience of growing up a trans woman of color. For every twenty-something who has ever felt like a tiny fish in a big pond, this one will feel powerful and personal. 

Sophia is joined by millennial founder Sarah Kunst, to deep-dive into the world of a sports media and lifestyle CEO. Sarah gets candid about her time working in venture capital, her ideas about money and power, and the experiences that ultimately drove her to speak to the New York Times about being sexually harassed by an angel investor in Silicon Valley. Sarah offers thoughtful advice to founders, women raising funding for a business, and women who might be experiencing harassment themselves.

On this episode of Girlboss Radio, Sophia welcomes Kate Ryder, founder and CEO of Maven. Maven is working to turn healthcare on its head—redefining medical care for the digital age. Because women make approximately 80 percent of the health care decisions in their families. They take the lead role in choosing health plans, scheduling doctor’s appointments and making sure that their families are getting the care they need. And yet, they are underserved and often overlooked—especially in telemedicine. Enter Kate and her company Maven, a digital clinic for women that connects patients directly with healthcare practitioners, anywhere, on demand. Here's how and why she built it. And how she transitioned from journalist to VC to founder.   

Kindness counts in business—just ask Kelly Mullens Brown, a woman who’s involved in...pretty much everything at Ryan Seacrest Enterprises.On this episode, Mullens Brown gives us a look inside Ryan Seacrest's complex and rapidly growing portfolio of media, tech, and entertainment businesses. She also gets honest about her battle with cancer, why a tough childhood only made her stronger, and how women should support other women in the workplace. 

Gwyneth Paltrow, founder and CEO of goop, joins Sophia for a candid conversation about the path that led her from acting to entrepreneurship and also addresses the controversy facing the brand that she built.  Plus, a quick preview of what’s coming up on girlboss.com with Editorial Director Jerico Mandybur.

Sophia Amoruso’s Girlboss Radio is back with a vengeance. In the first new episode, you’ll get a quick preview of what’s on girlboss.com with editorial director Jerico Mandybur—plus, a conversation with one of the most prolific writers of our time, Roxane Gay. Covering everything from Gay’s latest work, Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body, fatphobia, to writing and the meaning of “success,” get ready for a warm and stimulating conservation—the first of many.

Amel Monsur is the Executive Creative Director at VICE, the world's leading youth media brand and content creation studio. At VICE, Amel has led project and content development across i-D & Noisey, VICE's fashion cultural and music channels, as well a variety of branded campaigns that live off-channel. Amel's background is at the intersection of fashion, music and news, and she previously served as the Creative Director for Prince -- yes Prince! On the podcast, Amel discusses her early days working for Target, what it's like to be a creative working for a superior creative like Prince, and why creating content with a purpose is important these days.

This week, we have not one, but two guests on Girlboss Radio - Carly Zakin and Danielle Weisberg, the Co-founders of theSkimm! TheSkimm started a daily newsletter, giving its readers all the news and info to start the day. It's since grown into an 'audience company' that has a circulation of over 4 million active readers including fans such as Oprah and Hoda Kotb. Carly and Danielle met studying abroad together in college and several years later they both found themselves working at NBC News. They became fast friends, roommates, and eventually co-founders. On the podcast, the Sophia, Carly, and Danielle discuss how the co-founders met, how Danielle and Carly engage with their Skimmbassadors, and how they've learned to manage their growing team over the years.

You many not know Tracey, but you definitely know her work. She’s colored the famous locks of Jennifer Lopez, Lily Aldridge, Khloe Kardashian, and our very own Sophia Amoruso. She got her start working for none other than Bette Midler who put her through beauty school! Afterwards Tracey quickly rose through the ranks at the best salons in LA - Art Luna, Sally Hershberger, Byron & Tracey among others. In 2012, she and stylist Neil Weisberg teamed up to combine the best of styling and coloring in the business with Méche. On the podcast, Tracey reminisces about styling Bette's hair while combing through cookbooks, how she knew she could be a great colorist, and how beauty regimens like coloring might fix short-term problems but maybe not the longterm ones in your life.

From her early days bagging groceries, Alyssa Mastromonaco realized she had a gift for logistics. That gift led her all the way to the White House where she served as President Obama’s Deputy Chief of Staff. If you wanted to talk to President Obama, you had to go through Alyssa first. She left politics in 2014, and now works as the Chief Operating Officer of Vice Media. On this week’s episode, Sophia and Alyssa discuss Alyssa’s early days interning for Bernie Sanders, what good leadership means, and Alyssa’s hilarious misadventures in Buckingham Palace and on Marine One.

Alli Webb's career has had numerous incarnations. She’s worked in public relations and she’s been a professional hairstylist. But it wasn’t until 2008, when Alli really found her passion. She started a side business called Straight-at-Home, which provided in-home blowouts on a referral basis in LA. When her business and popularity quickly outgrew her one-woman show, she expanded and opened a brick and mortar called Drybar. Drybar is based on the simple concept of focusing on one thing and being the best at it: blowouts. They now have 67 locations across the country. And her new book, Good Hair for All, tells you how you can achieve a great blowout at home. On the podcast Sophia and Alli talk about Alli's early days working at salons, leaving and returning to the workforce to found Drybar, and the inherent trust of working with family.

Anne Fulenwider is a tour de force in the publishing world. After graduating from Harvard University, she moved to New York and learned the ins and outs of journalism under the tutelage of George Plimpton at The Paris Review. And she continued to work alongside the greats including Graydon Carter at Vanity Fair and Joanna Coles at Marie Claire. In 2011, Anne left Marie Claire to become the Editor-in-Chief of Brides where she completely rebranded the magazine to expand its reader base, but she couldn’t stay away from Marie Claire for long. She returned to the magazine as their Editor-in-Chief where she continues to push the brand to speak to today’s modern woman with its in depth reporting, fashion guides, and entertaining and informative features. On the episode Anne tells us how she puts together a magazine every month, how simply raising your hand can get you the job your want, and why networking is useful even if the word itself can feel disingenuous. 

Before Brit Morin could light that creative spark in all of us, she had to find that creativity within herself. After working for Google for four years, she left her stellar job working under Marissa Mayer to start her own company. But first, she decided to give herself a 6-month break. And those six months were, as Brit describes it, some of the most transformative months of her life. She enrolled in classes at a creative space for makers, and she abandoned the laptop screen for laser cutters, 3D printers, and clay. That experience ultimately inspired her to found Brit + Co, a new media and commerce company that enables creativity through inspirational content, online classes and do-it-yourself kits. The company now has partnerships with brands such as Target, and Brit is a regular DIY and lifestyle contributor to the Today show. On the podcast, Brit discusses her six month sabbatical after Google, how leadership roles can become political, and why everyone is a creative.