Aspire with Emma Grede

Kelly Wearstler is one of the most influential designers in the world,  but her real genius may be how she turned taste into a scalable multi-million dollar business. Over the years, she’s built a company that stretches far beyond interiors, expanding into product, licensing, creative direction, and media  all while staying closely involved in the work itself. In this conversation, we get into the...

Interviewing isn’t a personality test. It’s a skill, and it’s one you can learn. In this Career Girl’s Guide episode, Emma breaks down what actually makes someone stand out in the room. Drawing from years of interviewing — on both sides of the table — she shares the mindset shifts and practical tools that separate average candidates from unforgettable ones. In this episode, you’ll learn:  How to r...

Today on Aspire, Emma sits down with Jessie Inchauspé, known to millions as The Glucose Goddess. What started as a personal health experiment turned into three bestselling books, a global community, and an eight-figure business — built from the ground up, without outside investors. But this conversation isn’t about going viral. It’s about control. Emma and Jessie talk about the very intentional de...

Today on Aspire, Emma sits down with Laney Crowell, founder and CEO of Saie – a brand that consistently has seven products ranked in the top ten at Sephora.  Emma and Laney talk about what it really took to build Saie from scratch: the mindset shifts, the operational discipline, the hiring decisions, and the resilience required to scale without a traditional founder background. In this episode, La...

Issa Rae is entering a new chapter — not from the bottom, but from experience. After disrupting modern television with shows like HBO’s Insecure, building business across multiple industries, and creating some of the most culturally resonant work of the last decade, Issa sits down with Emma for a reflective conversation about power, execution, and what it really means to build something that lasts...

Angelica Nwandu shouldn’t be here...not according to the statistics. After surviving the unimaginable loss of her mother at age six and growing up in foster care, she rebuilt her world from scratch. Today, she stands as the powerhouse founder behind The Shade Room, one of the most influential media platforms in culture. In this rare intimate conversation, Angelica opens up to Emma about: -Survivin...

In this powerful conversation, Emma sits down with Simon Sinek to redefine what leadership actually looks like in today’s world. Known for shaping how millions think about purpose and influence, Simon goes deeper than theory, challenging the outdated idea that leadership is about authority, titles, or control. Instead, he breaks down why real leadership is rooted in responsibility: the responsibil...

Why do ambitious moms feel like they’re failing even when everything looks successful from the outside? In this enlightening episode of Aspire, Emma sits down with parenting expert and #1 New York Times Bestselling Author, Dr. Becky Kennedy for a conversation about motherhood, ambition, guilt, and what kids actually need from us. Dr. Becky breaks down why working moms feel stretched so thin, how c...

What if the smallest decisions you make today determine who you become in 2026? In this powerful New Year conversation, James Clear — author of Atomic Habits, the global phenomenon with over 25 million copies sold — sits down with Emma to break down the real psychology of habits, identity, and long-term success. Whether you're trying to reset your routines, build discipline, or reinvent your life...

In this deeply honest conversation, Mel Robbins sits down with Emma for one of the most raw, generous, and energizing interviews she’s ever given. Fresh off the global success of The Let Them Theory and hosting one of the world’s biggest podcasts, Mel opens up about what’s really behind her “overnight” rise: 16 years of unseen work, fierce mission-driven clarity, and a relentless commitment to hel...

How does a doctor with zero beauty training build one of the most influential skincare brands in the world? In this episode of Aspire, Emma Grede sits down with Dr. Barbara Sturm — the founder behind a global, anti-inflammatory skincare empire — to reveal the true story you’ve never heard.   Dr. Sturm opens up about the bullets she dodged, the bets she made, and the risks that almost broke her. Fr...

How does building a strong network help propel you in your career and business life? This mini-episode of Aspire with Emma Grede, answers that very question.  After listening, you’ll walk away with a clear understanding of what a network actually is, why it matters, and most importantly how you can create it for yourself, from where you are with what you have. We’ll also touch on the importance of...

Emma sits down with bestselling author and entrepreneur Sahil Bloom to unpack the five types of wealth that actually determine whether your life feels meaningful or painfully empty.   Sahil opens up about the real turning point in his life: chasing external success, hitting every traditional milestone, and still feeling like something was deeply wrong. As he tells Emma, he was “winning the game”, ...

In this solo episode, Emma Grede looks back on the conversations that shaped her most in the first year of Aspire. From billion-dollar founders to cultural icons to the people closest to her, Emma revisits the moments that shifted her thinking, changed her routine, and genuinely shook her this year.  These five lessons span money, mindset, ambition, career, and emotional resilience. Together, they...

You’re doing it all, the work, the family, the goals, but somehow, it still doesn’t feel like enough. Psychiatrist Dr. Judith Joseph joins Emma to unpack high-functioning depression — the hidden burnout behind success. They break down why overachievers feel empty even when they’re thriving, how “pathological productivity” keeps us stuck, and the simple science of finding real joy again.   Watch to...

Have you recently become a new founder and find yourself asking the question: Where should I spend my money when I’m just starting out? What matters most in the beginning, and what can wait? This mini-episode of Aspire with Emma Grede, brought to you by Shopify, will help you answer those questions. On today’s pod, Emma will help you decide which areas of your new business need attention and which...

What separates the entrepreneurs who start… from the ones who win? Harley Finkelstein (President of Shopify and the man who has worked with millions of founders) sits down with Emma Grede to reveal the hard-earned truths behind building a business that lasts. From the real reason most people never act on their ideas, to why the “golden age of entrepreneurship” is happening right now, Harley breaks...

What does it take to turn obsession into a billion-dollar beauty empire? In this episode of Aspire with Emma Grede, global makeup icon Charlotte Tilbury sits down with Emma to share how she went from a young girl with a dream to building one of the most powerful and influential beauty brands in the world. Charlotte opens up about the mindset behind her success — how belief, obsession, and relentle...

Do you have a spark of an idea that feels like it has potential? This mini-episode of Aspire with Emma Grede, brought to you by Shopify, will help you realize if your spark has the potential to turn into a flame. On today’s pod, Emma offers solid steps to begin realizing your idea’s possibility. From identifying what problem your idea is solving to differentiating yourself from a crowded market, E...

Reese Witherspoon may be known as America’s sweetheart — but behind the scenes, she’s built a billion-dollar empire that changed Hollywood for women everywhere. In this episode of Aspire, Emma Grede sits down with Reese to talk about the moment she stopped waiting for permission, the lessons she learned about money and ownership, and what it really takes to pivot in your career when everything loo...

Have you ever wanted to start a business but told yourself, not now, it’s not the right time? This mini-episode of Aspire with Emma Grede, brought to you by Shopify, might help you realize, there’s no perfect time to start a business. On today’s pod, Emma shares why she decided to become an entrepreneur and offers key insights from her journey over the years. From tips on how to discover your “why...

If you’ve ever felt like where you come from holds you back — or that success only happens for people with access — this conversation will change how you see yourself. Music mogul, entrepreneur and branding genius Steve Stoute joins Emma to reveal how he turned being underestimated into his advantage, using his roots, instincts, and connection to culture to build an empire that reshaped music, mar...

Thinking about starting a business but don’t know where to begin? In this solo episode, Emma breaks down the 10-step blueprint every first-time founder needs to turn an idea into a real company. From testing your idea to understanding the completion and market landscape to building a brand, pricing for profit, and leading a team — Emma shares the lessons she’s learned building multiple brands into...

Tracee Ellis Ross has built an extraordinary life as an award-winning actor, producer, entrepreneur, and visionary founder of Pattern Beauty. But behind all of that success is a woman who believes deeply in the power of words. In this episode of Aspire, Emma Grede sits down with one of her favorite women — and businesswomen — on the planet to talk about how Tracee’s intentional approach to languag...

If you’ve ever felt stuck, like no matter how hard you work, something’s holding you back, it’s probably not your talent or your hustle. It’s your mindset. In this solo episode, Emma Grede reveals how mastering your mind is the ultimate unlock for success, confidence, and peace of mind. She shares the exact mindset tools she’s used to build businesses, overcome fear, and turn self-doubt into fuel...