Hot Smart Rich

Today’s conversation all started with a viral video where I questioned if JVN Hair was the biggest celebrity brand failure of all time. Jonathan Van Ness, Emmy-winning host of Queer Eye, bestselling author, comedian, and founder of JVN Hair, opens up about the biggest challenges of his career - from beauty brand bankruptcy to personal health crises - and how he fought his way back. This is JVN like you’ve never heard him before: unfiltered, vulnerable, and brutally honest about fame, money, and survival.Why JVN Hair became the fastest-growing brand... and then went bankruptHow losing millions overnight changed his entire approach to moneyWhat it feels like to carry the weight of a team and brand in crisisThe shocking health scare that left him with “two buttholes” at his lowest pointWhy he fired his business team and finally took controlHow the Windsong Global deal gave him equity and a second chanceThe reality of building a celebrity brand without a safety netHis reflections on Queer Eye, fame, and being targeted in culture warsThe role of therapy, resilience, and self-acceptance in rebuildingWhy his mission is still joy, curiosity, and making people feel beautifulThis episode is more than a story about bankruptcy - it’s a masterclass in resilience, authenticity, and reclaiming your power when everything falls apart.HSR Angels get 25% off at JVN Hair with code HSR25(Excludes bundles, subscriptions, gift cards)⸻This episode is sponsored by:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HSR Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Get 3 months free using ⁠this link⁠⸻⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐If you like what you hear, rate, review, and subscribe to Hot Smart Rich, the podcast supporting women who own their worth — in business, wealth, and life.⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⸻💌Own your worth — and build the life you want. Subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter, the no-BS guide to startup life, consumer brands, and becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self, written by Maggie Sellers. Join 250,000+ women building wealth, confidence, and community on their own terms.⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe here⁠⁠⁠⁠⸻Become an HSR Angel in the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Global HSR WhatsApp⁠⁠⁠⁠ channel⁠!⸻Follow Maggie:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tiktok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locker⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ShopMy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Storefront⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⸻Follow JVN:Instagram TikTokhttps://jonathanvanness.com/ Getting Better with Jonathan Van Ness - Podcast⸻More from Hot Smart Rich:⁠⁠⁠⁠The Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Merch⁠⁠⁠⁠⸻This episode is produced by HSR Media, a division of Creative MES LLC, with support from Ana Sessions and Coldea Productions.⸻Hot Smart Rich is your place to hear unfiltered conversations with the people shaping the future of culture, creators, startups and community. Hosted by Maggie Sellers, investor and media powerhouse, and guests breaking the mold, you’ll get the real deal as it relates to navigating the startup fast lane, leveling up your life or becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self. New episodes weekly on Wednesdays.

Caitlin Begg , Harvard-trained sociologist, founder of Authentic Social, and host of Progression to Analog, is redefining how smartphones and social media shape our attention, communication, and intimacy. From taking three years off TikTok, to researching parasocial relationships, to designing healthier tech habits, this is the conversation every modern creator, founder, and human needs to hear.Why “phone brain” is the hidden reason behind your short attention spanHow notification culture rewires our dopamine and drives gossip cultureWhy short-term social media breaks don’t fix your brain - but mornings off doThe loneliness epidemic: hyper-connected, but more isolated than everHow parasocial relationships with influencers - and even friends - are changing intimacyWhy authenticity online matters (and why most people still fake it)The dark side of dating apps and how they’re numbing real connectionWhy boredom, drifting, and in-person conversations are the real productivity hacksHow AI can free up time for thinking - if you use it the right wayWhat companies get wrong about workplace communication overloadThis isn’t about quitting tech. It’s about reclaiming your attention, deepening real relationships, and designing a more human everyday life.⸻This episode is sponsored by:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HSR Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Get 3 months free using ⁠this link⁠⸻⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐If you like what you hear, rate, review, and subscribe to Hot Smart Rich, the podcast supporting women who own their worth — in business, wealth, and life.⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⸻💌Own your worth — and build the life you want. Subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter, the no-BS guide to startup life, consumer brands, and becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self, written by Maggie Sellers. Join 250,000+ women building wealth, confidence, and community on their own terms.⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe here⁠⁠⁠⁠⸻Become an HSR Angel in the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Global HSR WhatsApp⁠⁠⁠⁠ channel⁠!⸻Follow Maggie:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tiktok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locker⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ShopMy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Storefront⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⸻Follow Caitlin & Authentic Social:InstagramLinkedInTikTok https://www.caitybegg.comhttps://www.authenticsocial.com ⸻More from Hot Smart Rich:⁠⁠⁠⁠The Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Merch⁠⁠⁠⁠⸻This episode is produced by HSR Media, a division of Creative MES LLC, with support from Ana Sessions and Coldea Productions.⸻Hot Smart Rich is your place to hear unfiltered conversations with the people shaping the future of culture, creators, startups and community. Hosted by Maggie Sellers, investor and media powerhouse, and guests breaking the mold, you’ll get the real deal as it relates to navigating the startup fast lane, leveling up your life or becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self. New episodes weekly on Wednesdays.

What if the secret to building wealth wasn’t spending big, but acting broke?Lucy Guo (@guoforit), co-founder of Scale AI, founder of Passes, and the youngest self-made female billionaire, is redefining what it means to win in tech, money, and the creator economy. From her “act broke, stay rich” mindset, to proving people wrong in Silicon Valley, to helping creators build generational wealth, this is the conversation every founder, dreamer, and disruptor needs to hear.Why acting broke is Lucy’s rule for staying richThe truth about being a “billionaire” (and why it’s not cash in the bank)How equity, not cash, creates generational wealthThe surprising power of free things (and why Lucy still takes UberX)How she handles haters, trolls, and being called “the party girl of tech”Why proving people wrong has fueled her biggest winsWhat founders get wrong about raising money and scaling fastHow AI will shape the next wave of unicorn companiesWhy consistency, discipline, and content are the only real creator superpowersThis isn’t about chasing trends or titles. It’s about building smarter, betting on yourself, and creating wealth that lasts.⸻This episode is sponsored by:⁠⁠Pique⁠⁠ - Use this link for 20% off. (http://piquelife.com/HSR20)⁠⸻⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐If you like what you hear, rate, review, and subscribe to Hot Smart Rich, the podcast supporting women who own their worth — in business, wealth, and life.⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⸻💌Own your worth — and build the life you want. Subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter, the no-BS guide to startup life, consumer brands, and becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self, written by Maggie Sellers. Join 250,000+ women building wealth, confidence, and community on their own terms.⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe here⁠⁠⁠⁠⸻Become an HSR Angel in the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Global HSR WhatsApp⁠⁠⁠⁠ channel⁠!⸻Follow Maggie:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tiktok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locker⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ShopMy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Storefront⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⸻Follow Lucy & Passes:Instagram⁠LinkedInTikTokInstagramWebsite⸻More from Hot Smart Rich:⁠⁠⁠⁠The Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Merch⁠⁠⁠⁠⸻This episode is produced by HSR Media, a division of Creative MES LLC, with support from Ana Sessions and Coldea Productions.⸻Hot Smart Rich is your place to hear unfiltered conversations with the people shaping the future of culture, creators, startups and community. Hosted by Maggie Sellers, investor and media powerhouse, and guests breaking the mold, you’ll get the real deal as it relates to navigating the startup fast lane, leveling up your life or becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self. New episodes weekly on Wednesdays.

What if talking about money with your partner wasn’t awkward, but the key to keeping your relationship strong?Libby Leffler (@thisfirst), founder of First and former Google and Facebook exec, is redefining what it means to protect love with logic. From breaking the stigma around prenups, to helping women secure their futures, to proving that money talk is harder than sex talk, this is the conversation every modern couple needs to have before their big day.Why women are now leading the prenup conversationThe surprising top 3 reasons couples get prenups (hint: it’s not just money)How prenups lower divorce rates - and strengthen marriagesWhy money talk is harder than sex talk in relationshipsThe rise of millennial women protecting inheritance, property, and businessesHow to start a money conversation without ruining the romanceWhy every couple already has a prenup (even if they don’t know it)The power of transparency in building trust, partnership, and loveThis isn’t about planning for divorce. It’s about protecting the life you’re building - together.⸻HSR Angels get $100 off all First prenup products with code HOTSMARTRICH.HOTSMARTRICH promo code good through 12/31/2025 at www.thisfirst.com; all coupon codes must be used at checkout at time of purchase (ineligible for retroactive discounts)⸻This episode is sponsored by:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HSR Newsletter⁠⁠⁠ - Get 3 months free using ⁠this link⁠⸻⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐If you like what you hear, rate, review, and subscribe to Hot Smart Rich, the podcast supporting women who own their worth — in business, wealth, and life.⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⸻💌Own your worth — and build the life you want. Subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter, the no-BS guide to startup life, consumer brands, and becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self, written by Maggie Sellers. Join 250,000+ women building wealth, confidence, and community on their own terms.⁠⁠⁠Subscribe here⁠⁠⁠⸻Become an HSR Angel in the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Global HSR WhatsApp⁠⁠⁠ channel⁠!⸻Follow Maggie:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tiktok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locker⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ShopMy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Storefront⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⸻Follow Libby & First:⁠LinkedInWebsiteInstagramWebsite⸻More from Hot Smart Rich:⁠⁠⁠The Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Merch⁠⁠⁠⸻This episode is produced by HSR Media, a division of Creative MES LLC, with support from Ana Sessions and Coldea Productions.⸻Hot Smart Rich is your place to hear unfiltered conversations with the people shaping the future of culture, creators, startups and community. Hosted by Maggie Sellers, investor and media powerhouse, and guests breaking the mold, you’ll get the real deal as it relates to navigating the startup fast lane, leveling up your life or becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self. New episodes weekly on Wednesdays.

What if you took the money saved for your dream wedding and bet it all on your business?Would it make or break you?Siff Haider and Nish Samantray, co-founders of Arrae, share their raw story of love, sacrifice, and scaling to $100M. From immigrating to the U.S. with no safety net, to choosing business over a wedding, to learning how to fight (and win) together as partners in love and work, this is what it really costs to build big.Why skipping their wedding was the best decision they ever madeHow they scaled Arrae from $1M to $100M in just 5 yearsThe truth about building as immigrant founders chasing the American dreamHow to fight with your partner without breaking the business (or the marriage)Why most founders fail, and how they found the answers anywayWhat it really takes to hire, scale culture, and protect a $100M businessWhy they said no to selling (even at $300M)Why they treat money in business as math, not emotion, and how that changed their personal spendingHSR Angels get ⁠⁠15% off at Arrae⁠⁠ with code HSR15⸻This episode is sponsored by:⁠⁠⁠⁠Pique⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Use this link for 20% off⁠⁠⁠⁠HSR Newsletter⁠⁠ - Get 3 months free using ⁠this link⁠⸻⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐If you like what you hear, rate, review, and subscribe to Hot Smart Rich, the podcast supporting women who own their worth — in business, wealth, and life.⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⸻💌Own your worth — and build the life you want. Subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter, the no-BS guide to startup life, consumer brands, and becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self, written by Maggie Sellers. Join 250,000+ women building wealth, confidence, and community on their own terms.⁠⁠Subscribe here⁠⁠⸻Become an HSR Angel in the ⁠⁠⁠Global HSR WhatsApp⁠⁠ channel⁠!⸻Follow Maggie:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tiktok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locker⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ShopMy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Storefront⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⸻Follow Siff, Nish & Arrae:⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠Siff ⁠⁠& ⁠⁠Nish⁠⁠⁠⁠Tiktok⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠Arrae ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⸻More from Hot Smart Rich:⁠⁠The Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset⁠⁠⁠⁠Merch⁠⁠⸻This episode is produced by HSR Media, a division of Creative MES LLC, with support from Vandana Ravi and Coldea Productions.⸻Hot Smart Rich is your place to hear unfiltered conversations with the people shaping the future of culture, creators, startups and community. Hosted by Maggie Sellers, investor and media powerhouse, and guests breaking the mold, you’ll get the real deal as it relates to navigating the startup fast lane, leveling up your life or becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self. New episodes weekly on Wednesdays.

What if you hit rock bottom at 18 and almost lost your life to addiction. Do you think you could recover?EXCLUSIVE This is Cara Santana Leto’s first sit-down interview as a married woman, and she doesn’t hold back. From hitting rock bottom at 18 and nearly losing her life to addiction, to being ousted as CEO of her first company, to finding love again with husband Shannon Leto and launching a new brand, Cara is rewriting what it means to be a multi-hyphenate creative entrepreneur.How to perfect the role of “multi-hyphenate” creative entrepreneur How to leave something that isn’t working to find your truth How to start over time and time again without shame or regretHow to find a whitespace in a saturated industry The inner workings of a Kardashian adjacent brand The beginning of lil luv dog Lessons from a second time founder for first time foundersHSR listeners can enjoy 10% off at ⁠Lil Luv Dog⁠ with code HOTRICH10⸻This episode is sponsored by:- HSR Newsletter - Get 3 months free using ⁠⁠⁠this link⁠⁠⁠. ⸻Become an HSR Angel in the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Global HSR WhatsApp channel⁠⁠⁠⁠!⸻⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐If you like what you hear, rate, review, and subscribe to Hot Smart Rich, the podcast supporting women who own their worth — in business, wealth, and life.⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⸻💌Own your worth — and build the life you want. Subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter, the no-BS guide to startup life, consumer brands, and becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self, written by Maggie Sellers. Join 250,000+ women building wealth, confidence, and community on their own terms.⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe here⁠⁠⁠⁠⸻Follow Maggie:⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tiktok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locker⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ShopMy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Storefront⁠⁠⁠⸻Follow Cara & Lil Luv Dog:⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠Lil Luv Dog⁠⁠Website⁠⸻More from Hot Smart Rich:⁠⁠⁠⁠The Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Merch⁠⁠⁠⁠⸻This episode is produced by HSR Media, a division of Creative MES LLC, with support from Vandana Ravi.⸻Hot Smart Rich is your place to hear unfiltered conversations with the people shaping the future of culture, creators, startups and community. Hosted by Maggie Sellers, investor and media powerhouse, and guests breaking the mold, you’ll get the real deal as it relates to navigating the startup fast lane, leveling up your life or becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self. New episodes weekly on Wednesdays.⸻Cara Santana Leto is an American actress, producer, and screenwriter best known for her roles in Vida, Salem, and Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3: Viva La Fiesta!. She began her career with appearances on CSI: Miami and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation before landing recurring roles in Reunion, Major Crimes, and Santa Clarita Diet. Beyond acting, she has written and produced projects including Steps (2019).In May 2025, Cara married musician Shannon Leto (Thirty Seconds to Mars) in a star-studded Beverly Hills ceremony attended by Jared Leto, Olivia Culpo, and Christian McCaffrey. Describing her relationship as a source of grounding and confidence, Cara continues to expand her creative career while inspiring audiences with her artistry and resilience.Cara Santana Leto is the co-founder of Lil Luv Dog alongside best friend, Steph Shep (Stephanie Suganami), former Chief Operating Officer of Kardashian West brands.

In this episode, meet the founder you don’t know, behind the brand you already love.Dr. Julie Chung, Co-Founder of T3 Micro, gives the advice every ambitious woman wants to hear about building a brand, looking your best, and choosing the right life co-founder when she opens up about:How to use color theory analysis to look your best The lessons from building a top-selling beauty brand at Sephora for over 20 yearsHow to use being a multi-hyphenate to your advantage The new standard to make your boyfriend, your husbandWhat’s really going on with 12-year-olds running around SephoraWhy exercising soft power always wins over hard powerHow to build a business with your family—and not lose your sanityChapters00:00 – Meet Dr. Julie Chung: From Surgeon to Beauty Founder0:32 – How to Shop Smart: The Secrets Behind Everyday vs. Expensive Purchases1:38 – How to Use Color Theory to Reinvent Your Look (and Confidence)3:40 – How to Turn Two Worlds Into One: From Medicine to Sephora Icon6:49 – What It Really Means to Balance Being a Doctor and Entrepreneur7:57 – How to Keep Your Two Worlds Separate (When People Find Out Who You Really Are)9:52 – What’s Harder: Running a Business or Saving Someone’s Vision?10:04 – The Surprising Similarities Between Surgery and Startups11:28 – How to Build a Beauty Brand Without Raising a Dollar12:55 – When to Pay Yourself vs. Reinvest in the Business13:36 – Should You Start a Company With Your Partner? The Truth After 20 Years15:39 – What’s Wrong With the Beauty Industry Today (and Why It Matters)17:29 – How to Step Into the Founder Role After 20 Years in the Shadows20:04 – How Much Vulnerability Do Female Founders Owe the World?22:47 – How to Survive a Hard Fertility Journey (and What It Teaches You About Control)25:11 – Why Teen Girls Are Obsessed With Sephora (And What Founders Should Know)28:27 – How to Capture the Most Valuable Consumer of the Future29:17 – What Success Looks Like Through Your Kids’ Eyes31:54 – How Money Trauma Follows You Into Adulthood (and Business)33:29 – The Most Unhinged Ways Founders Save Money in the Early Days35:14 – How Your Relationship With Money Evolves After Success36:24 – What People Get Wrong About Female Founders (And What It’s Really Like)40:15 – Why Timing Matters: The Right Moment to Step Into the Spotlight41:55 – The One Female Founder She Dreams of Meeting (and Why It Made Her Cry)42:48 – Rapid Fire: Beauty, Family, and Success Hot Takes⸻Become an HSR Angel in the ⁠⁠Global HSR WhatsApp channel⁠⁠!⸻This episode is sponsored by:⁠⁠⁠⁠Pique⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Use this link for 20% off. ⁠⁠Frate Returns⁠⁠ - Tell them HSR sent you and learn more here ⸻⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐If you like what you hear, rate, review, and subscribe to Hot Smart Rich, the podcast supporting women who own their worth — in business, wealth, and life.⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⸻💌Own your worth — and build the life you want. Subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter, the no-BS guide to startup life, consumer brands, and becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self, written by Maggie Sellers. Join 250,000+ women building wealth, confidence, and community on their own terms.⁠⁠Subscribe here⁠⁠⸻Follow Maggie:⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠Tiktok⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠Locker⁠⁠⁠⁠ShopMy⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Storefront⁠⸻Follow Dr. Julie & T3:⁠Instagram⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠T3 Micro Instagram⁠⁠Website⁠⸻More from Hot Smart Rich:⁠⁠The Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset ⁠⁠⁠⁠Merch⁠⁠⸻This episode is produced by HSR Media, a division of Creative MES LLC, with support from Vandana Ravi.⸻Hot Smart Rich is your place to hear unfiltered conversations with the people shaping the future of culture, creators, startups and community. Hosted by Maggie Sellers, investor and media powerhouse, and guests breaking the mold, you’ll get the real deal as it relates to navigating the startup fast lane, leveling up your life or becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self. New episodes weekly on Wednesdays.

Deepica Mutyala, CEO and Founder of Live Tinted, the #1 fastest growing beauty brand at Ulta, gives the advice every ambitious woman wants to hear to build her dream life, partner, and business when she opens up aboutWhat it’s really like dating right now as an ambitious woman with moneyThe pressure of growing up with South-Asian Immigrant parents ⁠How to make money as a CEO that has nothing to do with your businessHow to become the fastest growing prestige brand at Ulta without going viral on tiktok or having an influencer strategy The biggest crossroads she is at with building the fastest growing prestige brand at UltaWhy she’s done being known as “the minority founded beauty brand” Plus: we leave in a clip towards the end that most podcasters would delete and can’t wait to hear your thoughts.⸻Become an HSR Angel in the ⁠Global HSR WhatsApp channel⁠!⸻This episode is sponsored by:⁠⁠⁠Pique⁠⁠⁠ - Use this link for 20% off. ⁠Frate Returns⁠ - Tell them HSR sent you and learn more here ⸻⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐If you like what you hear, rate, review, and subscribe to Hot Smart Rich, the podcast supporting women who own their worth — in business, wealth, and life.⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⸻💌Own your worth — and build the life you want. Subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter, the no-BS guide to startup life, consumer brands, and becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self, written by Maggie Sellers. Join 250,000+ women building wealth, confidence, and community on their own terms.⁠Subscribe here⁠⸻Follow Maggie:⁠Instagram⁠⁠Tiktok⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠Locker⁠⁠ShopMy⁠⁠Amazon Storefront⸻Follow Deepica & Live Tinted:InstagramYouTubeTikTokLinkedInLive Tinted InstagramWebsite⸻More from Hot Smart Rich:⁠The Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset ⁠⁠Merch⁠⸻This episode is produced by HSR Media, a division of Creative MES LLC, with support from Vandana Ravi.⸻Hot Smart Rich is your place to hear unfiltered conversations with the people shaping the future of culture, creators, startups and community. Hosted by Maggie Sellers, investor and media powerhouse, and guests breaking the mold, you’ll get the real deal as it relates to navigating the startup fast lane, leveling up your life or becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self. New episodes weekly on Wednesdays.

Dianna Cohen, founder and ex-CEO of Crown Affair, joins Maggie Sellers to reflect on what it took to build the premium beauty brand redefining clean luxury in haircare and the future of founders as creators. What You'll Hear In This Episode:From working with Emily Weiss to building her own brand—Dianna’s evolution from beauty insider to beauty founder of Crown AffairThe early days of Crown Affair and how her time at Away shaped her approach to brand strategy and storytellingWhy Dianna stepped down as CEO—what she's doing at the brand now and how it unlocked a new creative chapterThe clean luxury playbook: how she built Crown Affair into a category-defining brandRaising $15M and scaling to $20M in revenue—without compromising brand integrityMaggie’s take on the identity shifts every founder faces—and the freedom of letting goDianna’s blueprint for building brands that feel personal, purposeful, and powerful⸻This episode is sponsored by:⁠⁠Pique⁠⁠ - Use this link for 20% off. Frate Returns - Tell them HSR sent you and learn more here ⸻⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐If you like what you hear, rate, review, and subscribe to Hot Smart Rich, the podcast supporting women who own their worth — in business, wealth, and life.Subscribe on YouTube⸻💌Own your worth — and build the life you want. Subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter, the no-BS guide to startup life, consumer brands, and becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self, written by Maggie Sellers. Join 250,000+ women building wealth, confidence, and community on their own terms.Subscribe here⸻Follow Maggie:InstagramTiktokLinkedInLockerShopMyAmazon Storefront⸻Follow Dianna:InstagramTikTokSubstack: Take Your Time⁠ Crown Affair ⁠Website⁠⁠Sephora⸻More from Hot Smart Rich:The Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset Merch⸻This episode is produced by HSR Media, a division of Creative MES LLC, with support from Vandana Ravi.⸻Hot Smart Rich is your place to hear unfiltered conversations with the people shaping the future of culture, creators, startups and community. Hosted by Maggie Sellers, investor and media powerhouse, and guests breaking the mold, you’ll get the real deal as it relates to navigating the startup fast lane, leveling up your life or becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self. New episodes weekly on Wednesdays.

What if the brand you built failed—and it wasn’t your fault?What if dating came with warning labels, and choosing not to have more kids was the most radical decision of all?In this week’s episode of Hot Smart Rich, Maggie Sellers and Katie Sellers are back in the studio, and this one’s personal. From beauty brand collapses to viral dating apps and modern motherhood, they unpack the stories that had them hooked (and sometimes heartbroken) this week.They go deep on:- Why it’s never been easier to launch a beauty brand—and never harder to keep it alive- What Ty Haney’s return to Outdoor Voices teaches us about comeback stories and founder evolution- The rise (and potential fall) of the dating app Tea, and what it says about toxicity, accountability, and modern dating- The Wall Street Journal report that proves women are still doing everything—at home and at work- Fertility, family planning, and the radical idea of saying “one child is enough”- Burnout, boundaries, and why creators (and founders) must take breaks- Gwyneth Paltrow’s genius PR move with Astronomer and why everything is content—even your ex-husband’s scandalWhether you're building a brand, questioning your timeline, or just trying to stay sane in your 30s—this episode is for you.Become an HSR Angel in the Global HSR WhatsApp channel!–This episode is sponsored by:- Frate Returns - Tell them HSR sent you and learn more here- HSR Newsletter - Get 3 months free using ⁠this link⁠. ⸻⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐If you like what you hear, rate, review, and subscribe to Hot Smart Rich, the podcast supporting women who own their worth — in business, wealth, and life.⁠Subscribe on Youtube⁠⸻💌Own your worth — and build the life you want. Subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter, the no-BS guide to startup life, consumer brands, and becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self, written by Maggie Sellers. Join 250,000+ women building wealth, confidence, and community on their own terms.⁠Subscribe here!⁠⸻Follow Maggie here:Instagram: ⁠@maggiesellers⁠TikTok: ⁠@maggiesellers_ ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠Maggie Sellers⁠ ShopMy: ⁠Maggie Sellers⁠Amazon Storefront: ⁠maggiesellers⁠⸻Follow Katie here:Instagram: ⁠@katiesellers_ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠Katie Sellers⁠⸻More from Hot Smart Rich:⁠The Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset⁠⁠Merch⁠⸻This episode is produced by HSR Media, a division of Creative MES LLC, with support from Coldea Productions.⸻Hot Smart Rich is your place to hear unfiltered conversations with the people shaping the future of culture, creators, startups and community. Hosted by Maggie Sellers, investor and media powerhouse, and guests breaking the mold, you’ll get the real deal as it relates to navigating the startup fast lane, leveling up your life or becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self. New episodes weekly on Wednesdays.

Have you ever wondered how long it really takes to go from a 9–5 to a six-figure influencer?What if your next chapter starts by trusting your gut, and not your job title?Les Alfred didn’t come from wealth. She didn’t have connections. But she had a voice, a podcast, and a powerful desire to grow beyond what her 9–5 at Hubspot allowed. In this episode of Hot Smart Rich, Maggie sits down with Les, the host of @shessoluckypod (Dear Media), to talk about what really happened for Les to reinvent herself, create her dream life, and make six-figures while doing it.They go deep on:How Les actually makes money as a creator (sponsorships, live events, speaking, and more)How to launch a podcast that people actually want to listen to—and how she grew to 10K+ downloads per episodeWhy her biggest opportunities (Michelle Obama, Melinda Gates interviews) came from her existing network—not cold pitchingWhat changed when she stopped DIY-ing and hired people better than herHow moving to New York unexpectedly unlocked everything she was cravingAnd the truth about dating when you're an ambitious woman building something bigWhether you're side-hustling, thinking about quitting, or feeling the pull to do more—this episode is your sign.⸻Chapters00:00 – Meet Les Alfred from Dear Media's She's So Lucky Podcast2:29 – How to Reinvent Your Life and Career From the Ground Up5:13 – How to Get Your Podcast Signed to Dear Media10:02 – How to Shift From Scarcity to Abundance With Money13:43 – How to Turn Your Content Into a Real Six-Figure Business18:28 – How to Build a Vision for Your Future (and Actually Get There)23:08 – How to Break Free From Stereotypes and Build Your Own Identity25:28 – How to Know When to Walk Away From the Wrong Relationship27:01 – How to Date With an Abundance Mindset (Even When It’s Hard)30:18 – How to Find the Right People to Support You As a Creator32:51 – How to Get Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunities34:54 – How to Rebrand Without Losing Your Audience40:02 – How to Start a Podcast That People Actually Want to Listen To42:02 – Rapid Fire: How to Know What You Really Love⸻This episode is sponsored by:- HSR Newsletter - Get 3 months free using ⁠this link⁠. ⸻⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐If you like what you hear, rate, review, and subscribe to Hot Smart Rich, the podcast supporting women who own their worth — in business, wealth, and life.⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⸻💌Own your worth — and build the life you want. Subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter, the no-BS guide to startup life, consumer brands, and becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self, written by Maggie Sellers. Join 250,000+ women building wealth, confidence, and community on their own terms.⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⸻Follow Maggie here:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@maggiesellers⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@maggiesellers_ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Maggie Sellers⁠⁠⁠⁠ ShopMy: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Maggie Sellers⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Storefront: ⁠⁠⁠⁠maggiesellers⁠⁠⁠⁠⸻Follow Les & She's So Lucky:Instagram: @lesalfred & @shessoluckypodYoutube: @shessoluckypod⸻More from Hot Smart Rich:⁠⁠⁠⁠The Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Merch⁠⁠⁠⁠⸻This episode is produced by HSR Media, a division of Creative MES LLC, with support from Coldea Productions.

What if your big sisters worked at Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, LinkedIn, and Snap, and went to Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, and Dartmouth, just so they could hand you the playbook?In this episode of Hot Smart Rich, Maggie sits down with Tiger Sisters Jean and Cherie Brooke Luo, two powerhouse siblings with Wall Street and Silicon Valley resumes who are making elite career advice radically more relatable. Jean (Harvard MBA, Dartmouth undergrad) built a $300M business at Snap. Cherie (Stanford MBA, Columbia engineering) scaled products at LinkedIn. Now, they’re spilling the tea on everything from Ivy League admissions and imposter syndrome to dating as a successful woman and the real ROI of a $250K MBA.You’ll hear what it was like growing up with a Tiger Mom, how they hacked their way into the Ivy League (and why you don’t have to), the power dynamics of being a woman in finance, and how to stop doing free work and start owning your narrative. This one is filled with tactical gems, big sister energy, and real talk on money, identity, ambition, and building a life that feels as good as it looks.⸻This episode is sponsored by:- ⁠Pique⁠ - Use this link for 20% off. - HSR Newsletter - Get 3 months free using this link.⸻⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐If you like what you hear, rate, review, and subscribe to Hot Smart Rich, the podcast supporting women who own their worth — in business, wealth, and life.⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Youtube⁠⁠⁠⸻💌Own your worth — and build the life you want. Subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter, the no-BS guide to startup life, consumer brands, and becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self, written by Maggie Sellers. Join 250,000+ women building wealth, confidence, and community on their own terms.⁠⁠⁠Subscribe here!⁠⁠⁠⸻Follow Maggie here:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@maggiesellers⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠@maggiesellers_ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠Maggie Sellers⁠⁠⁠ ShopMy: ⁠⁠⁠Maggie Sellers⁠⁠⁠Amazon Storefront: ⁠⁠⁠maggiesellers⁠⁠⁠⸻Follow Tiger Sisters here:Instagram⁠: @cherie.brooke & @jeanluo_ Youtube: @cherie.brooke & The Tiger SistersShop Sisters Matcha⸻More from Hot Smart Rich:⁠⁠⁠The Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Merch⁠⁠⁠⸻This episode is produced by HSR Media, a division of Creative MES LLC, with support from Coldea Productions.

Aishwarya Iyer, Founder of Brightland, on Copycats, Creator Culture, and Building a Luxury Brand From BurnoutWhat happens when a health scare leads you to reinvent the olive oil aisle—and you end up in the middle of a New York Times “olive oil war” after being bullied online by another founder?In this episode of Hot Smart Rich, Maggie sits down with Aishwarya Iyer, the founder of Brightland, to unpack how one wellness wake-up call turned into a category-defining pantry brand that landed on Oprah’s Favorite Things list in 2022. Aishwarya shares the moment her health shifted everything, why she turned to fashion houses like Gucci and Ralph Lauren—not food brands—for inspiration, and how she reimagined a dusty commodity into a cult-status luxury product. And how wholesale partners like Amazon and Nordstrom helped scale her business.They go deep on what it really takes to build a premium brand in a saturated category, how to handle copycats with clarity instead of chaos, and why going viral isn’t a requirement for building something iconic. Aishwarya also opens up about becoming a mom after nine years of marriage, not knowing if she wanted kids—and what motherhood taught her about identity, ambition, and leadership.Whether you're building a brand, balancing personal transformation, or trying to define success on your own terms, this one’s for you.⸻🔑 Key TakeawaysFrom burnout to Brightland. A personal health scare led Aishwarya to create Brightland—not to build a brand, but to solve a real kitchen problem. That authenticity became her edge.Luxury in the details. Inspired by Gucci and Ralph Lauren, Brightland’s premium packaging and positioning turned pantry staples into cultural icons—proving that higher pricing only works when backed by quality.Success invites copycats. After the New York Times spotlighted the “olive oil wars,” Aishwarya reflects on being mimicked and publicly called out. Her response? Founders should lead with vision, not defensiveness.Motherhood changes everything. Launching Brightland and becoming a mother at the same time brought guilt, growth, and identity shifts—reshaping how she leads.Visibility isn’t everything. Aishwarya skipped TikTok and virality, choosing substance over flash. Staying behind the scenes helped her build lasting brand equity.⸻This episode is sponsored by- Pique - Use this link for 20% off. - Frate Returns - Tell them HSR sent you and learn more here⸻Items Mentioned in This Episode- Brightland Olive Oil - use code HSRBRIGHTLAND for 20% off your first purchase up until November 1, 2025 ⸻LinksUse ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Opus Clip⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to turn long videos into shorts.⸻⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐If you like what you hear, rate, review, and subscribe to Hot Smart Rich, the podcast supporting women who own their worth — in business, wealth, and life.⁠⁠Subscribe on Youtube⁠⁠⸻💌Own your worth — and build the life you want. Subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter, the no-BS guide to startup life, consumer brands, and becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self, written by Maggie Sellers. Join 250,000+ women building wealth, confidence, and community on their own terms.⁠⁠Subscribe here!⁠⁠⸻Follow Maggie here:Instagram: ⁠⁠@maggiesellers⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠@maggiesellers_ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠Maggie Sellers⁠⁠ ShopMy: ⁠⁠Maggie Sellers⁠⁠Amazon Storefront: ⁠⁠maggiesellers⁠⁠⸻Follow Aishwarya here:Instagram@helloaishwarya@wearebrightland⸻More from Hot Smart Rich:⁠⁠The Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset⁠⁠⁠⁠Merch⁠⁠⸻This episode is produced by HSR Media, a division of Creative MES LLC, with support from Coldea Productions.

On this episode of Hot Smart Rich, Maggie Sellers sits down with Natalie Holloway, co-founder of ⁠Bala⁠, the brand that made fitness hot. Natalie built Bala into a $20M business with a Shark Tank deal from Mark Cuban, faced near bankruptcy, and navigated the rollercoaster of entrepreneurship—all while raising three kids under four.The conversation gets real as Natalie shares the hardest moments of scaling Bala, from the chaos of explosive growth during COVID to nearly losing the company. She breaks down what saved the business, why she prioritizes profit overgrowth, and how she made the tough call to lay off nearly her entire team while pregnant.Maggie and Natalie also dive into motherhood, ambition, and the reality of balancing it all—plus, Natalie shares what really happened with Bala’s Drunk Elephant drama, how she deals with copycats, and why she believes affiliate marketing is the future for brands.⸻🔑 Key TakeawaysYou can build a $20M brand without raising big VC money. Bala’s success proves that profitability is more important than endless fundraising. Natalie and her husband bootstrapped their way to the top—then nearly lost it all.Scaling fast can break you. Bala blew up overnight after Shark Tank and COVID, but hypergrowth almost killed the business. Natalie shares the hard truth about layoffs, cash flow, and surviving the free fall.Motherhood and entrepreneurship? There’s no perfect balance. Natalie had to make brutal business decisions while pregnant. The real talk: founders don’t get maternity leave, and work-life balance is a myth.Copycats and competition will come—so stay ahead.Drunk Elephant launched a Bala-inspired product. Knockoffs are everywhere. The only way to win is to innovate faster than they can copy.The smartest founders are shifting from influencers to affiliates.Natalie shares why paying influencers big bucks is outdated and why affiliate marketing is the new power move for brands.Negotiate like a man. Women are still underpricing themselves in business. Natalie learned to ask for more, own her worth, and not settle for the first offer.Bala is just getting started. NYC fitness studio? More retail expansion? Natalie spills what’s next and why she’s betting big on IRL experiences and digital fitness.⸻This episode is sponsored by Frate Returns. Tell them HSR sent you and learn more here!⸻Items Mentioned in This EpisodeBala — the original workout bangles. ⁠Shop here⁠Form x Bala — the set. ⁠Shop here⸻⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐If you like what you hear, rate, review, and subscribe to Hot Smart Rich, the podcast supporting women who own their worth — in business, wealth, and life.Subscribe on YouTube⸻💌Own your worth — and build the life you want. Subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter, the no-BS guide to startup life, consumer brands, and becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self, written by Maggie Sellers. Join 250,000+ women building wealth, confidence, and community on their own terms.Subscribe here⸻Follow Maggie here:Instagram: @maggiesellersTiktok: @maggiesellers_ ⁠⁠LinkedIn: Maggie SellersShopMyAmazon Storefront⸻Follow Natalie here:Instagram: ⁠@natalieholloway@bala⁠ ⁠@balacize⁠⸻More from Hot Smart Rich:The Hot Smart Rich Money MindsetMerch⸻This episode is produced by HSR Media, a division of Creative MES LLC, with support from Vandana Ravi and Coldea Productions.

Weddings. Wealth. Women doing free work.This week, Hot Smart Rich is back with sisters Maggie and Katie Sellers—talking candidly about navigating money in relationships, the pressure of influencer wedding culture, and what happens when someone starts copying your brand move for move. (Hint: you trademark or die.)From a quick catch-up post Maggie's Euro trip to a 400% raise for the DCC, this episode covers personal stories, hard-earned lessons, and straight-up tactical advice on everything from prenups to trademarking to finding a partner who gets your ambition.If you’re navigating wedding pressure, financial conversations in your relationship, or trying to protect your brand from copycats—this one’s for you.⸻Key TakeawaysMixed finances doesn’t mean mixed values.Maggie and Katie break down how to approach money in relationships, what to consider before combining finances, and why a prenup is self-respect—not pessimism.Wedding culture is spiraling.From Sophia Richie Grainge to the Bezos/Sanchez media circus, we dissect the current state of influencer weddings—and how to stay grounded in your own vision.You’re not crazy—they’re copying you.Maggie opens up about the reality of being copied and why protecting your intellectual property is not optional. Trademark early, trademark everything.The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders effect.The power of reality TV is underestimated—especially when building in public. We explore how narrative-driven platforms shape culture and why founders should pay attention.Women need to stop doing free work.Katie shares the moment that led to a 409% raise—and why advocating for yourself is the most HSR move you can make.AI is not optional.We break down why creators must start experimenting with AI tools (yes, even if you’re not “technical”) and how to think bigger than ChatGPT.Supportive partners are a strategic advantage.Maggie shares the top questions to ask when dating to find someone who supports—not competes with—your ambition.⸻LinksUse ⁠⁠⁠⁠Opus Clip⁠⁠⁠⁠ to turn long videos into shorts.⸻⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐If you like what you hear, rate, review, and subscribe to Hot Smart Rich, the podcast supporting women who own their worth — in business, wealth, and life.⁠Subscribe on Youtube⁠⸻💌Own your worth — and build the life you want. Subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter, the no-BS guide to startup life, consumer brands, and becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self, written by Maggie Sellers. Join 250,000+ women building wealth, confidence, and community on their own terms.⁠Subscribe here!⁠⸻Follow Maggie here:Instagram: ⁠@maggiesellers⁠TikTok: ⁠@maggiesellers_ ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠Maggie Sellers⁠ ShopMy: ⁠Maggie Sellers⁠Amazon Storefront: ⁠maggiesellers⁠⸻Follow Katie here:Instagram: ⁠@katiesellers_ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠Katie Sellers⁠⸻More from Hot Smart Rich:⁠The Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset⁠⁠Merch⁠⸻This episode is produced by HSR Media, a division of Creative MES LLC, with support from Coldea Productions.

What does it take to rebuild your life, your body, and your business from scratch? In this episode of Hot Smart Rich, Maggie sits down with Bryony Basse (née Deery), founder of Pilates by Bryony and Dior Global Wellness Expert, to talk about the moment everything changed. After a life-altering car accident in her early 20s left her in chronic pain, Bryony turned to Pilates as a form of healing. What started as recovery became her purpose and ultimately a multi-million dollar global brand.She built a multi-million dollar digital fitness business from her living room floor with a tripod and an iPhone, found strength through solitude, and learned that the real flex is owning your identity, your IP, and your income.But the story doesn’t stop at success. Bryony opens up about walking away from a relationship marked by the emotional toll of financial imbalance and power dynamics, and how meeting the love of her life helped her rewrite her story. Financial independence, she shares, gave her the ability to love fully without resentment, performance, or transaction.This is a conversation about power—reclaiming it, building it, and learning how to hold it. If you’ve ever questioned your worth, your voice, or your path, Bryony’s story is proof that everything can change when you stop waiting for permission and start choosing yourself.⸻Key TakeawaysYour power starts with ownership. Bryony owns her name, her content, and her business. She breaks down why holding the rights to your brand and IP isn’t just smart—it’s essential for building something no one can take away.Learning is a superpower. Through her role as Dior’s Global Wellness Expert, Bryony had a front-row seat to how world-class brands operate. She shares how adopting a learner’s mindset helped her bring luxury strategy to her business—without losing authenticity.She built a multimillion-dollar brand from her living room. After a car accident left her in chronic pain, Pilates became her way back. With nothing but a tripod and an iPhone, she turned that recovery journey into Pilates by Bryony—and never looked back.Financial freedom changed how she loves. Bryony reflects on how financial imbalance shaped a past relationship—and how building her own income allowed her to step into partnership from a place of clarity, not dependence.You can rewrite your story at any time. From heartbreak and injuries to global success, Bryony proves that reinvention is possible when you choose yourself—and stay rooted in your purpose.⸻Chapters 00:00 – 09:10: From hospital bed to Pilates—how it all began09:11 – 18:43: Building Pilates by Bryony with no budget, no help18:44 – 27:25: Learning from Dior, and the power of a learner's mindset27:26 – 36:12: Navigating power dynamics and love after success36:13 – 48:30: The business of wellness, brand-building, and going global⸻LinksUse ⁠⁠⁠Opus Clip⁠⁠⁠ to turn long videos into shorts.⸻⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐If you like what you hear, rate, review, and subscribe to Hot Smart Rich, the podcast supporting women who own their worth — in business, wealth, and life.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⸻💌Own your worth — and build the life you want. Subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter, the no-BS guide to startup life, consumer brands, and becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self, written by Maggie Sellers. Join 250,000+ women building wealth, confidence, and community on their own terms.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⸻Follow Maggie here:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@maggiesellers ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@maggiesellers_ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Maggie Sellers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ShopMy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Storefront⁠⁠⁠⁠⸻Follow Bryony here:Instagram: @bryonydeeryPilates By Bryony: @pilatesbybryonyPodcast: Beyond the Mat⸻More from Hot Smart Rich:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Merch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⸻This episode is produced by HSR Media, a division of Creative MES LLC, with support from Coldea Productions and Vandana Ravi.

Allison McNamara, Founder of Mara Beauty, On How Getting Divorced, & Losing 40 Pounds Totally Changed Her Life and Supercharged Her BusinessWhat happens when you stop hiding, start healing, and finally show up for yourself—and your brand?In this episode of Hot Smart Rich, Maggie sits down with Allison McNamara, founder of MARA Beauty, to unpack the full spectrum of personal and professional transformation—from coming out and getting divorced to finally stepping into her power as both a founder and a face.For the first time, Allison publicly shares what it meant to come out, and how embracing her identity brought her closer to her community and more aligned with her creative voice. She also opens up about the decision to end her marriage, lose 40 pounds, and finally claim her space in front of the camera—not just behind the brand.This conversation goes deep into how these shifts impacted MARA’s success, including three Sephora sellouts, a commitment to owning her formulas, and how leading with clarity and confidence became her greatest business strategy.Whether you're navigating identity, rebuilding after a pivot, or just wondering how to stop playing small—this one’s for you.⸻🔑 Key TakeawaysComing out helped her come into her power. For the first time, Allison publicly shares what it meant to come out—and how embracing her identity brought her closer to her community and more aligned with her creative voice.Choosing yourself is the first pivot. Ending her marriage wasn’t just a personal decision—it was the catalyst for a full-scale transformation. Allison shares how reclaiming her life also supercharged her business.Wellness isn’t vanity—it’s velocity. Losing 40 pounds helped her feel mentally sharp and physically strong. That internal shift translated into leadership clarity and outward momentum for MARA.You can be both the founder and the face. Stepping into visibility changed everything. Once Allison began showing up for the brand—not just behind it—MARA hit a new growth curve.Owning your formulas is a power move. Allison breaks down why MARA has always developed and owned its formulas—no white labeling, no shortcuts. It’s the long-term play that builds real brand equity and IP value.3x Sephora sellouts are no accident. MARA’s viral moments didn’t happen by luck. Allison shares the behind-the-scenes decisions—from reformulations to community storytelling—that helped the brand sell out three times at Sephora.Your business grows when you stop playing small. From sharper campaigns to higher ad spend, Allison’s mindset shift led to bold bets—and the returns followed.Quiet confidence can be a competitive edge. MARA’s success is rooted in product integrity, founder honesty, and long-game thinking. Allison shows that you don’t have to be the loudest voice to build one of the most respected brands in beauty.⸻LinksUse ⁠⁠Opus Clip⁠⁠ to turn long videos into shorts.⸻⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐If you like what you hear, rate, review, and subscribe to Hot Smart Rich, the podcast supporting women who own their worth — in business, wealth, and life.⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⸻💌Own your worth — and build the life you want. Subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter, the no-BS guide to startup life, consumer brands, and becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self, written by Maggie Sellers. Join 250,000+ women building wealth, confidence, and community on their own terms.⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe here⁠⁠⁠⁠⸻Follow Maggie here:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@maggiesellers ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@maggiesellers_ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Maggie Sellers⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ShopMy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Storefront⁠⁠⁠⁠⸻Follow Allison here:Instagram: @allisonmcnamaraTikTok: @allisonmcnamara_LinkedIn: Allison McNamara⸻More from Hot Smart Rich:⁠⁠⁠⁠The Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Merch⁠⁠⁠⁠⸻This episode is produced by HSR Media, a division of Creative MES LLC, with support from Coldea Productions and Vandana Ravi.

What happens when the internet turns on you, your marriage falls apart behind the scenes—and you still scale Naturium (your startup) into a $355M acquisition from e.l.f.? Susan Yara is telling her side of the story. In this episode of Hot Smart Rich, Maggie sits down with Susan Yara, the founder of Naturium, for one of the most honest and tactical conversations we’ve had on the show. Known for her credibility and candor in the beauty space, Susan opens up about the backlash over her undisclosed involvement in Naturium, being cleared by the FTC, and scaling a brand that became a case study in profitability, performance, and modern brand-building.But this isn’t just a founder story—it’s a personal one. Susan shares what it was like navigating a divorce while in the public eye, raising two kids as a single mom, and redefining her relationship with identity, ambition, and authenticity. From moments that nearly broke her to the business strategies that built her, this episode is a blueprint for long-game thinking in beauty and beyond.Naturium became one of the first creator-founded skincare brands to exit at scale—paving the way for brands like Rhode by Hailey Bieber to follow. As a pioneer in the masstige skincare category, Susan didn’t just ride the wave—she helped define it. Her story proves that credibility, community, and clarity still win in the age of algorithms and outrage.For anyone building in public, recovering from criticism, or wondering if you can be both honest and successful—this one’s for you.⸻Key TakeawaysControversy doesn’t cancel you—lack of clarity does. Susan opens up about the Naturium backlash, her FTC clearance, and how transparency helped rebuild trust with her audience and consumers.You can build while breaking down. She reflects on navigating a divorce during the brand’s biggest growth phase—and how personal transformation shaped her leadership.Masstige is the new frontier. Naturium’s success helped define the mid-tier, high-efficacy skincare category, making room for other creator brands like Rhode to follow.Retail still matters. Scaling with Target wasn’t just a channel strategy—it was a credibility builder. Susan breaks down how shelf space drove awareness and repeat sales.Quiet founders can lead loud growth. Susan never sought the CEO spotlight. But leaning into her strength as an operator—not just an influencer—helped Naturium stand out in a crowded space.Partnerships over Perfection. She unpacks her working relationship with Ben Bennett and how mutual trust helped them navigate mistakes, milestones, and media storms.Margins over vibes. Susan made Naturium profitable from day one—and explains why obsessing over contribution margin (not Instagram likes) is what scaled the business.⸻Use ⁠Opus Clip⁠ to turn long videos into shorts.⸻⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐If you like what you hear, rate, review, and subscribe to Hot Smart Rich, the podcast supporting women who own their worth — in business, wealth, and life.⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⸻💌Own your worth — and build the life you want. Subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter, the no-BS guide to startup life, consumer brands, and becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self, written by Maggie Sellers. Join 250,000+ women building wealth, confidence, and community on their own terms.⁠⁠⁠Subscribe here⁠⁠⁠⸻Follow Maggie here:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@maggiesellers ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠@maggiesellers_ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠Maggie Sellers⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ShopMy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Storefront⁠⁠⁠⸻Follow Susan here:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@susanyara⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠@susanyara⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠Susan Yara⁠YouTube: ⁠@Mixedmakeup⁠ ⁠@SusanYara⁠⸻More from Hot Smart Rich:⁠⁠⁠The Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Merch⁠⁠⁠⸻This episode is produced by HSR Media, a division of Creative MES LLC, with support from Coldea Productions and Vandana Ravi.

What happens when your salary becomes a headline, Oprah steps back, and your bet on the future of health divides the internet (and the markets)?In this episode of Hot Smart Rich, Maggie sits down with Sima Sistani, former CEO of WeightWatchers as she reflects on the boldest pivot in WW’s history—integrating GLP-1 medications like Ozempic—and what it was like to be at the center of a cultural storm. From media backlash to public salary scrutiny, she shares what the press missed, what she’d do differently, and how she found peace in stepping away. This is a masterclass in how modern CEOs manage perception and pressure.Sima and Maggie talk about ambition, identity, criticism, and the discomfort of no longer being the one everyone’s watching. This episode isn’t just about reinventing a brand—it’s about reinventing yourself.For founders and operators, it’s a blueprint for leading with conviction—even when the room isn’t ready.⸻Key TakeawaysGLP-1s changed the game—if you were paying attention.Sima didn’t wait for consensus. She led a bet-the-company pivot based on science. She acted fast, with one eye on cultural shifts and one on long-term impact.Strategy requires stamina. Pivoting WW came with skepticism and scrutiny. Sima stayed the course, proving that real reinvention requires endurance—not just vision.The most powerful rebrands come from within. Sima joined WW to shift diet culture from the inside. Real change comes from systems, not slogans.Public perception doesn’t always match private reality. From Oprah’s exit to WW’s bankruptcy headlines, Sima shares what the media missed—and what she stands by. In public leadership, clarity is not spin. It’s survival.Visibility is vulnerability—especially for women. Sima reflects on being a public CEO, mother, and Iranian-American woman in a system built for polish. She proves you don’t have to sand yourself down to be taken seriously.Apology is not weakness—it’s real leadership. When called out by body positivity advocate Katie Sturino, Sima didn’t hide. She apologized, then turned it into a platform for change.Money and meaning aren’t always aligned. Sima shares how it felt to see her comp become a headline—and how she stayed centered through the noise.Leaving can be leadership, too. Stepping down was a full-circle decision. Sometimes your greatest impact is knowing when to walk away.What do you do when the noise dies down? Sima speaks honestly about no longer being in the spotlight—and how letting go helped her reconnect with purpose.⸻⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐If you like what you hear, rate, review, and subscribe to Hot Smart Rich, the podcast supporting women who own their worth — in business, wealth, and life.⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⸻💌Own your worth — and build the life you want. Subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter, the no-BS guide to startup life, consumer brands, and becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self, written by Maggie Sellers. Join 250,000+ women building wealth, confidence, and community on their own terms.⁠Subscribe here⁠⸻Follow Maggie here:Instagram: ⁠@maggiesellers ⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠@maggiesellers_ ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠Maggie Sellers⁠ ⁠⁠ShopMy⁠⁠Amazon Storefront⁠⸻Follow Sima here:Instagram: ⁠@simaLinkedIn: Sima Sistani⸻More from Hot Smart Rich:⁠The Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset⁠⁠Merch⁠⸻This episode is produced by HSR Media, a division of Creative MES LLC, with support from Coldea Productions and Vandana Ravi.

What happens after 10 seasons on national TV? You build something of your own.In this episode of Hot Smart Rich, Maggie sits down with professional dancer and entrepreneur Lindsay Arnold to talk about life after Dancing with the Stars — from launching The Movement Club to growing a brand rooted in purpose.Lindsay shares how motherhood motivated her to build something real, how she overcame doubt to launch, and what it’s like to go from talent to founder. They cover brand trips that convert, building in public, and navigating money, marriage, and motherhood with clarity.For anyone making a pivot, balancing life and ambition, or building with intention — this one’s for you.⸻Key Takeaways​You just have to start. Lindsay launched The Movement Club during her first pregnancy, not because it was the perfect time but because she knew the need was real. Action beats perfection.​Authenticity scaled her business. The Movement Club didn’t go viral overnight. It grew because Lindsay integrated it into her real life. Her audience didn’t just watch her promote it—they watched her live it.​She’s part of the new wave of founder-led brands. With over 2.5 million followers across Instagram and TikTok, Lindsay is building trust and brand equity in public and showing creators how to do it with intention. ​Brand trips work when they’re intentional. The Movement Club’s Hawaii trip wasn’t just about content. It delivered a 200 percent ROI on subscriptions and sparked community-led growth.​Motherhood is a multiplier, not a limitation. Becoming a mom gave Lindsay the clarity and conviction to build with purpose. It didn’t slow her down. It gave her a deeper reason to speed up.​Being the breadwinner comes with its own dynamics. Lindsay shared what it’s like to navigate ambition, marriage, and money as the primary earner, and how she and her husband Sam stay grounded in true partnership.​Softness and strength can coexist. From postpartum to pivoting in public, Lindsay proves you can be transparent without oversharing and still lead with power and clarity.⸻Try The Movement Club With a 7 Day Free Trial⸻⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐If you like what you hear, rate, review, and subscribe to Hot Smart Rich, the podcast supporting women who own their worth — in business, wealth, and life.Subscribe on YouTube⸻💌Own your worth — and build the life you want. Subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter, the no-BS guide to startup life, consumer brands, and becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self, written by Maggie Sellers. Join 250,000+ women building wealth, confidence, and community on their own terms.Subscribe here⸻Follow Maggie here:Instagram: @maggiesellers ⁠TikTok: @maggiesellers_ ⁠⁠LinkedIn: Maggie Sellers ⁠ShopMyAmazon Storefront⸻Follow Lindsay here:Instagram: @lindsarnoldTikTok: @lindsarnold⸻More from Hot Smart Rich:The Hot Smart Rich Money MindsetMerch⸻This episode is produced by HSR Media, a division of Creative MES LLC, with support from Coldea Productions and Vandana Ravi.⸻This episode touches on Lindsay Arnold’s full evolution—from So You Think You Can Dance (SYTYCD) to Dancing with the Stars, to building a wellness brand as a mom of two. We talk about her husband Sam Cusick, her daughters June and Sage, and how her sister Rylee Arnold is following in her footsteps. As a Utah-based, modern Mormon founder, Lindsay shares her take on motherhood, ambition, and boundaries in the public eye. From viral moments (yes, even the fart ones) to faith, fitness, and family, this episode also nods to connections with Derek and Julianne Hough, and broader cultural conversations like Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. If you’re searching for anything from Lindsay Arnold’s postpartum fitness to Movement Club brand trips in Hawaii, you’ll find something here.