Above The Fold

This week, I sat down with two of my favorite entrepreneurial baddies, Sara and Chloe of Tippy Type—a product built for nail girlies and typers everywhere. We talked about how they turned a scrappy prototype into a viral business, why they skipped paid ads entirely, and how listening to their community (and yes, even the trolls) shaped every product decision they’ve made. We also get into the ungl...

This week, I sat down with Nichelle Mesa, CX Manager at Girlfriend Collective, to talk about what it really looks like to build a small but powerful customer experience team that’s got more heart than headcount. We cover what makes Girlfriend’s CX team so effective (spoiler: it’s not macros or AI), why empathy still matters, and how being in the queue isn’t a sign of bad leadership — it’s a flex....

This week, I sat down with my friend Reid Litman, Global Consulting Director at Ogilvy, to talk about what it actually means to build trust with Gen Z—and why most brands are doing it wrong. We cover creator-led brands, the evolution of retail strategy, loyalty programs that don’t suck, and why “authenticity” has officially lost all meaning. Reid shares what he’s seeing on the agency side, from le...

This week on After Hours x Above the Fold, I’m joined by my longtime internet friend and professional complainer, Patrick Johnson—engineer, brand builder, and one of the most brutally honest voices in ecomm. We cover everything from smarter subscription strategies to the death of originality in AI-built websites. Patrick shares what he’s seeing behind the scenes with clients, why most brands copy...

This week, I sat down with Lauren Schorr, director of CX at Nestig, to talk about what it actually looks like to build customer experience into the foundation of a brand—not just as a function, but as a mindset. We dig into why Nestig made CX its very first hire (yes, really), how they’ve scaled without outsourcing, and the difference between answering tickets and owning the entire customer journe...

This week, I sat down with Kate Zaman, Senior VP of Partnerships and Marketing at ReserveBar, to talk about what it really takes to build a brand that doesn’t just survive but thrives, especially in a world where consumers expect more than just a pretty label. We get into career growth, partnerships, luxury e-commerce, why personalization matters more than ever, and how to actually understand your...

This week on After Hours x Above the Fold, I sat down with my girl Dillon Duchesne, senior partnerships lead at Yotpo and co-founder of Midcoast, to talk about what actually makes a partnership work (hint: it’s not just a logo swap and a handshake). We get into Dillon’s wild career path—from 11 years as a runway model to crushing tech sales—and how that experience taught her the kind of relationsh...

This week on Above The Fold, I sat down with my girl Lindsay Kolinsky, Director of Marketing at Okendo, to talk about what most brands are doing wrong when it comes to understanding their customers. We get into why reviews are just the beginning, how to use micro-surveys the right way, and why personalization should feel like a vibe—not a tactic. Plus, we dig into why NPS is wildly underused in e-...

This week on Above The Fold, I’m in NYC catching up with my new friend and fellow startup nerd, Adam Simone—co-founder of Leaf Shave and Smoosh. We get into what it really means to build product-first brands and why having strong opinions might actually be a founder’s best tool. We talk about his mechanical engineering background and how it led to building a shaving brand that doesn’t suck, and wh...

This week, I sat down with Olivia Laskowski, This week, I sat down with Olivia Laskowski, aka Liv—Brand and Partnerships Manager at Cometeer and certified coffee nerd—to talk about what it actually means to build a brand with substance (and caffeine). We got into the frozen coffee magic that makes Cometeer different, why brand teams should be in the room way earlier, and how a kiosk in the Mall at...

This week, I sat down with Kate Reeder, COO and Head of Brand at United Sodas, to talk about what it really takes to build a brand that stands out in a crowded market. Spoiler: it’s more than just cool packaging. We get into the magic of minimalism, why startups make you wear every hat possible (yes, even HR), and how United Sodas accidentally became the perfect gift. Kate shares her story - going...

✨ In this episode of Above the Fold, I sit down with Jessica Rose Garcia—aka J-Rose—Head of CX at OneSkin, to talk about what really makes customers stick around. Spoiler: It’s not just fast email responses. We dive deep into: 💡 How J-Rose went from working at Gold’s Gym to leading CX at some of the biggest brands in DTC 📈 Why most brands completely fumble retention—and what they should be doin...

This week, we sat down with Ali Rose VanOverbeke to talk about what it really takes to build a brand that people actually care about—beyond just running ads and chasing conversions. We get into creative direction, brand loyalty, and why e-commerce is starting to feel like one big copy-paste formula. Ali’s seen it all—from designing for billion-dollar brands to launching her own sustainable eyewear...

This week, I sat down with Caela Castillo, Director of CX at Jaxxon, to talk about what it really takes to build a CX team that customers actually want to engage with. We’re chatting all things hiring for personality over process, using AI without making your brand sound like a robot, and why CX should always have a seat at the strategy table. Caela breaks down the strategy behind Jaxxon’s CX expe...

This week, I brought the CX girl gang out of the group chat and into the podcast for a conversation about careers, leadership, and the reality of running CX teams. Ashley Harris (CXM @ Caraway), Cati Brunell-Brutman (CXM @ Glossier), Molly Meetz (Director of CX @ Corso), Leanna Nazzizi (Senior Director of CX at Victoria Beckham Beauty), Nancy Gurd (Director of CX at Caraway), and Lauren Schorr (Di...

This week on Above the Fold , I sat down with Kieran Mathew, GM and partner at Equip Foods, to talk about what it really takes to build a brand that lasts. We get into his journey from running a marketing agency at 19 years old to scaling a multi-million dollar eCommerce business. Kieran breaks down why transparency, trust, and real customer relationships have been the backbone of Equip’s growth,...

This week on Above the Fold, we’ve got a BONUS EPISODE coming in hot! Once a month, I go on LinkedIn for AfterHours LIVE—a no-BS breakdown of the biggest DTC moves, plus the kind of raw, unfiltered brand marketing advice you won’t get anywhere else. And this time, the convo was too good not to share. I sat down with the legends behind MixMix—Allison Disney, Katelin Randall, and Matt Sabo—to talk a...

What happens when you walk away from Harvard Med School, dive into Michelin-star restaurants, and set out to change the wine industry? You get Nomadica —a wine brand that’s rewriting the rules and making fine wine fun, accessible, and cool again. In this inspiring episode, Kristin Olszewski, the founder of Nomadica , shares her incredible journey from dropping out of med school to becoming a wine...

This week, I sat down with my brothers from another mother to talk about what it really takes to build a brand that lasts , beyond social media hype. We cover entrepreneurship, content marketing, Latino representation in business, and why customer experience is more than just good service .  Plus, Josh shares how he’s handled doubt along the way ( was it the content or just the abs? ) and how...

What happens when you mix a YouTube star, startup chaos, and a coffee bean-shaped soap? You get this week’s episode of Above the Fold! Jess Cervellon sits down with Kenzie McAndrew, the powerhouse marketer behind Akira Coffee and Top of the Mornin' . Kenzie shares how her love for branding—and a college hustle redesigning logos—sparked a career that’s equal parts creativity and chaos. From making...

What happens when two best friends, a shot of tequila, and stale ginger ale collide? You get Chaser, the ultimate party companion. In this laugh-out-loud episode, Jess Carroll and Jess Moran, the dynamic duo behind Chaser , share how a college friendship and one too many gross shots led to their game-changing beverage brand. From 8 a.m. “shots for science” in a lab to designing a mascot named Budd...

What happens when a juicer meets a French press and says, “Hold my pulp?” You get JUV, the brainchild of Jai Patel, who’s here to spill the juice (literally and metaphorically) on how he turned a personal juicing nightmare into a game-changing product. In this chaotic and juice-soaked episode, we channel our inner QVC hosts with a live JUV press demo—yes, things got messy. Jai talks about ditching...

This week, we’re diving into the world of Can-Tini, the beautifully branded, ready-to-drink espresso martini, with its founder, Henry Rathjen. 🍸✨ Henry shares the inspiring founder story of Can-Tini, how it all started with a holiday bar conversation, and the journey of creating a standout product in Austin’s competitive beverage scene. From branding strategies and overcoming manufacturing chall...

In this episode, I sit down with the brilliant Ben Segal, a CX innovator who’s worked across startups, big brands, and everything in between. From his early days in hospitality to leading CX at powerhouse brands like Freshly and Thesis, Ben has redefined what it means to create unforgettable customer experiences. We dive into: • Ben’s journey from working at the Bronx Zoo to building CX teams that...

In this episode, we chat with Lucy Samuel , a copywriter and brand voice expert who has lent her creative touch to some of your favorite brands, including The Bouqs, TomboyX, Hedley & Bennett and today Alle (your favorite aesthetics platform. iykyk ;)). With a background in stand-up comedy and CX, Lucy shares how her journey has shaped her ability to craft authentic, engaging content that reso...