Stay StarryEyed

How do you get people off their phones and excited to shop in real life again? Emily Schildt is the founder and CEO of Pop Up Grocer, the discovery destination created for curious shoppers and emerging brands that deserve to be found. She created Pop Up Grocer after years in CPG marketing where she saw incredible, new products get lost in overcrowded aisles and online or priced out by a broken sys...

How do you ensure constant creativity to drive sales and brand loyalty week after week? Amy Eldredge is Vice President of Menu at Crumbl, one of the fastest-growing brands in the world. She leads the brand’s 52 highly anticipated weekly menu drops per year across the franchise system of more than 1,000 locations (and counting). In this episode, Amy takes us behind the scenes of what it takes to tu...

This episode is for brand leaders who are ready to stop waiting and start creating. Toni Ronayne is the founder of the C-Society and a fractional CEO, specializing in enterprise and brand transformation for growth-stage and scaling brands. She partners with founders, boards, and executive teams during moments of complexity, helping align brand, operations, people, and strategy to drive sustainable...

Modern marketing offers more tools than ever before. But Eleanor’s message is clear: growth doesn’t come from doing more , it comes from doing the right things well. Eleanor is the founder and CEO of Verity, a shopper marketing and retail media agency helping up-and-coming brands grow in a world made for big-brand incumbents. After a career at PepsiCo and high growth challenger brands like Kodiak...

This conversation is a rare treat. Roxanne Quimby is co-founder and former CEO of Burt’s Bees, artist, conservationist, philanthropist, and one of the most influential brand builders of the last half-century. Roxanne doesn’t seek the spotlight. She seldom gives interviews, doesn’t let anyone take her picture, and almost never appears on camera. In this episode, she generously shares the ideas, rou...

The best trends reflect deeper, lasting shifts in how we shop, eat, and behave. If you want to understand which trends are gaining real traction, and what they mean for your brand and business, this sneak preview of the year ahead is especially for you. Megan Lynberg is Senior Vice President of Client Strategy at Datassential, the world’s leading intelligence platform tracking the most relevant tr...

If you’re trying to spot new opportunities earlier, build best-in-class brands faster, and think bigger for ideas that define complete categories, you’re in the right place. Jack Gibbons, CEO of FB Society (creator of Velvet Taco, Whiskey Cake, Sixty Vines, Haywire, Mexican Sugar, Legacy Hall and more), shares how he and his team turned a portfolio of new-to-world concepts into a true powerhouse....

What does it take to communicate with clarity, confidence, and creativity so that you move rooms, mobilize teams, and communicate ideas worth spreading? Briar Goldberg, one of the world’s most sought-after communications coaches and the force behind hundreds of the most iconic TED Talks, shares the essential skills today’s leaders need to break through noise, complexity, and shrinking attention sp...

What does it take to lead a 60-year-old legacy brand into its next, new era while staying optimistic, quality-focused and people-first? Heather Neary, President and CEO of Taco John’s, shares lessons learned during her rise from Auntie Anne’s marketing manager to CMO-turned-operations leaderand then to one of the very few female chief executive officers in her industry. In this episode, you’ll lea...

What does it take to stand out early in your career, stay creative as you rise, and lead teams so they are inspired to follow? Todd Smith, President of Swig and longtime brand builder (Sonic, Wendy’s, Yum! Brands, ROCTACO, Flake), shares the honest lessons behind bold thinking, humble leadership, and taking risks even when you can’t see what’s on the other side. In this episode, you’ll learn: ✨ W...

What does it mean to lead with both heart and high standards? Amy Hom, Chief Operating Officer at Barcelona Wine Bar and Co-Founder of GLEAM, shares how she builds world-class hospitality cultures rooted in care, curiosity, and consistency. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why exit interviews are too late, and how "stay interviews" reveal what truly keeps people inspired and engaged The five questio...

What makes some brands launch and last, while others fade away? Being bold, not beige. Greg Creed, former CEO of Yum! Brands (Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC), shares how he helped turn Taco Bell into one of the world’s most distinctive brands by focusing on culture, creativity, and bold choices that broke industry rules. In this episode, you’ll learn: ✨ How to replace “beige” thinking with bold, brand...

We all have moments when we doubt the path we’re on. Am I in the right relationship? Is this the career for me? Is this as good as it gets? What's next? These questions can feel uncomfortable... until you have a method to answer them and redirect. Enter The Life Brief, the USA TODAY bestselling book from award-winning brand strategist Bonnie Wan. Named Ad Age’s Chief Strategy Officer of the Year,...

What does it take to turn a 110-year-old camping brand into a cultural phenomenon? Jenn Reeves, SVP at Funko and previously Stanley 1913, shares how she helped transform a legacy utility brand into a modern lifestyle brand by looking back to move forward. In this episode, you’ll learn: ✨ How to honor your brand’s history and heritage while reinventing for new audiences ✨ The difference between b...

Can data make your brand more human? Scott Lawton, Co-Founder & Chairman of bartaco, shares how he blends data, design, and hospitality to build a brand that has become one of the industry’s most distinctive experiences. In this episode, you’ll learn: ✨ How to use guest data to enhance your brand experience ✨ Why the best operators measure sentiment before sales ✨ How to empower teams with...