Field Notes: Building a Podcast Studio & My Starting from Zero ✏️

Starting from the ground up is HARD. I’ve been reminded of this fact on a daily basis over the past few weeks. I feel like I’m starting from zero in a lot of categories right now, and although I’m jazzed about all of these fresh starts, it’s still very mentally taxing.

As you know, I’ve been planning this podcast launch for a while now, and I’m officially launching it next month! I’m so excited, nervous, and overwhelmed (but mostly excited). Behind the scenes, things have NOT gone to plan, but I’m figuring it out. I was first planning to start filming the podcast in January at my network’s beautiful and professional studio in the Palisades. However, the week before I started filming, the Palisades fires happened and now the studio is an obvious non-option. Then, I moved to Spotify Studios for a month and a half, which was incredible and such a dream. But out-of-the-blue two weeks ago, Spotify announced that they were shutting down their LA studio location.

So when life hands you lemons, you decide to build your own studio!!! It’s a real financial investment, but this is one of those cases where I’m thinking that you have to act the part (truly a moment of manifestation) and things will work out accordingly. I’m going to bring you all in on the behind-the-scenes of getting the podcast off the ground, so stay tuned for some videos from me on this! And as far as the podcast content: you’ll be getting two episodes a week. One episode will be an interview with a business leader/CEO/founder; and the other will be a mini deep dive (15-25 min) about a juicy business topic, just like my existing Reels/TikToks, but I’ll be able to go into more detail.

I’m also starting from basically zero on YouTube, where I’ll be posting all of the video content from the podcast (but the podcast will be available wherever you listen to podcasts- Spotify, Apple, etc). It’s a bit intimidating to start building from the beginning, but it’s also incredible exciting to have a fresh slate and be able to A/B test, and learn as I go.

Here’s to new beginnings, drinking from firehoses, and remembering that we’re all out here just trying our damn best. -Sammi

Business, Economy & Culture🛍️📈💸

🖤 Prada Agrees to Buy Fashion Rival Versace Luxury powerhouse Prada has struck a deal to acquire rival fashion label Versace for $1.375 billion. The move consolidates two iconic Italian brands under one roof amid growing global competition. (cnn)

🤠 Why Tech Bros Are Dressing Like Cowboys Now The tech bro of 2025 is no longer a dude wearing Allbirds and living in San Francisco. Today, he lives in Austin and wears Tecovas. What a world we’re living in! (wsj)

📉 How Much Are Tariffs on Chinese Goods? It’s Trickier Than You Think Markets have been in whiplash over the past week, and there’s a lot of confusion and anxiety about how these tariffs will impact all industries. This article helps to break down how specific sectors will likely be impacted. (nyt)

🟤 Hershey Strikes $750 Million Deal for LesserEvil Popcorn Brand Hershey is acquiring trendy snack brand LesserEvil for $750 million to expand beyond chocolate, which has become a liability amid record-high cocoa prices. The deal reflects its shift toward health-conscious, high-growth snack categories. (wsj)

🍔 With Shake Shack in First Class, Airline Food Is No Longer a Joke Delta is partnering with Shake Shack to serve elevated fast-casual meal in first class, signaling a new era for in-flight dining and upgraded passenger experiences. (bloomberg)

🛍️ Buy or Wait? Americans Wrestle With How Tariffs Will Affect Their Shopping. As U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods loom, American consumers are reconsidering their shopping habits amid uncertainty around rising prices. The potential impact is already shifting buyer behavior and brand strategy. (nyt)

👶 How an $800 Baby Carrier Became the Birkin of Mom Gear Artipope’s Zeitgeist baby carrier has gained cult status as a luxury parenting essential, priced at $800 and beloved by influencers and celebrities. It’s now a symbol of aspirational parenting.(wsj)

🧪 Inside the Brand Refresh Core to Olaplex’s New Strategic Vision Olaplex is rolling out a brand refresh with a softer aesthetic and clearer messaging to better connect with a broader audience amidst intense competition in the haircare market. The move is part of a larger strategy to rebuild trust and refresh its ‘roots’ quite literally! (retail brew)

🥻 Reformation’s Devon Lee Carlson Collab Sparks Cultural Appropriation Allegations Reformation's collaboration with influencer Devon Lee Carlson faced backlash after critics accused the brand of appropriating South Asian attire, specifically lehengas, without proper acknowledgment. The controversy ignited discussions on cultural sensitivity and representation in fashion.(nyt)

🛍️ Uniqlo is Making IRL Services a Core Part of its Marketing Playbook as it Grows US Presence Japanese clothing brand Uniqlo is doubling down on in-store services like tailoring and styling to stand out in the U.S. market. These offerings are now central to its customer engagement strategy. (modern retail)

🟢 Crocs' Big Bet on Personalization Paid Off. Here's How it Happened - and What Investors are Keeping an Eye On Now. Crocs' strategy to let customers personalize their clogs with charms (jibbitz) along with unique messaging and fun collabs has fueled major sales growth. Now, investors are watching to see how the brand sustains momentum while staying relevant. (cnbc)

🦶Recovery Footwear Brands are Trying to Market to the Masses Brands like OOFOS and HOKA are expanding beyond athletes, marketing recovery footwear to everyday consumers seeking comfort and wellness. They're betting that post-workout shoes can become daily staples. (modern retail)

🏝️You Can Live Like the (Out of Touch) Guests of ‘The White Lotus’  Luxury resorts are now offering White Lotus-style vacation packages that mimic the show’s over-the-top guest experiences. But critics question whether the fantasy reflects privilege more than escapism. (nyt)

Concept of the Week: The Frequency Illusion🧠

The Frequency Illusion is a cognitive bias that makes you believe something you just learned or noticed is suddenly showing up all the time. It’s not that the thing is happening more often — it’s just that your brain is now hyper-aware of it. It feels like a coincidence or a pattern, but it’s your mind playing tricks on you. Two psychological effects are at play:

• Selective Attention – Once something is on your radar, your brain notices it more.

• Confirmation Bias – You believe it’s happening more, so you keep spotting examples that “prove” your theory.

Venture Capital, Innovation & Entrepreneurship💰🌍💼

🧑‍🚀 38 Consumer Founders Lobby Over Trump Tariffs This letter to Trump was written by Allison Luvera, founder of Juliet Wine, a startup that sells upscale boxed wine direct to consumers. Luvera tells TechCrunch that she faces a surprise $200,000 annual bill. (tech crunch)

❤️‍🔥Tinder’s New AI-Powered Game Assesses Your Flirting Skills Tinder launched an interactive AI-driven game that analyzes users' flirty messages to rate their charm and practice their ‘game’. It's part of the app’s push to gamify dating and boost user engagement. (tech crunch)

🚁 Drone Delivery Startup Zipline Expands to Texas with Walmart Partnership Zipline is launching its precision drone delivery service in Dallas through a new partnership with Walmart. The move marks a major step in scaling faster, contactless retail delivery in the U.S. (cnbc)

👻 Snapchat Rolls out Sponsored AI Lenses for Brands Snapchat is introducing sponsored AI-powered lenses, giving brands new tools for personalized and immersive marketing. The feature blends augmented reality with generative AI for real-time branded experiences. (tech crunch)

Resources/Links 🌶️🧥

🎵 My favorite playlist when I’m getting work done - there’s something about listening to this music that actually gets me to stop scrolling on Instagram and start focusing.

👩‍💼 This post about how to get the attention of a CEO during a job search process.

👀 This free course on data visualization with Tableau.

👭 This group that helps women buy and sell companies.

🍝 Never Overcook Pasta Again With Help From Barilla's Spotify Playlists Barilla teamed up with Spotify to create pasta-length playlists that time your cooking perfectly. Each track list matches the boil time for different pasta types — playful and practical brand marketing. (tasting table)

🎨 How the Science of Color Boosts Productivity at Work Research shows that incorporating specific colors can influence focus, creativity, and energy in the workplace. Companies are now using color psychology to design more productive and engaging office spaces. (wsj)

🌟The Most Important Trait in Life “Courage now, easy later!” This newsletter piece from Sahil Bloom’s Curiosity Chronicle perfectly encapsulates the beauty and essence of having courage in any and every situation.

💬 Emotional Signposting: Why You Should Tell People How to Feel Emotional signposting involves explicitly naming your emotions to guide how others interpret your message. It helps build empathy, reduce misunderstandings, and create stronger connections.

🧠 21 UX Strategies to Maximize User Engagement Without Exploitation This guide explores ethical UX tactics that drive engagement without resorting to dark patterns. It offers practical design strategies focused on user trust, transparency, and value.(medium)

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