Open Residency

We turned this conversation into a playbook — every retail formula, hiring question, and brand strategy in one PDF. Download free: https://openresidency.com/ross-mackay-playbook?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=ross_mackay_playbook📬 The playbook behind every episode, straight to your inbox: https://openresidency.com/signup⚡️ BTS & more https://openresidency.com/ross-mackayTIMESTAMPS:00:00:00 Trailer00:00:51 How Do You Make a $2 Product Luxury?00:04:01 Why Did You Rebrand 3 Times in 1 Year?00:12:48 How Do You Actually Approach Retailers?00:18:36 Going Into Retail00:23:41 The Mafia That Controls Distribution00:27:32 Biggest Learning From Scaling Retail00:34:05 How Many SKUs Have You Launched?00:39:54 The One Rule To Approaching Manufacturers00:42:32 Being Sold Out For 200+ Days00:45:30 The Biggest Mistake A Brand Can Make00:49:38 How To Make Your Own Custom Product00:51:31 Testing Optimal Ratios As A Runner00:55:22 Content In Your Positioning Strategy01:01:21 Collabs With Bandit and RAW01:05:24 Why World Class Athletes Might Damage Your Brand01:08:21 Ad Strategy For Cadence01:11:18 Hiring Philosophy At Cadence01:22:32 QuickFire QuestionsIn this episode, we sit down with Ross Mackay, founder and CEO of Cadence — the brand redefining what "premium" means in a $200B beverage category. Ross breaks down how you turn a $2 drink into luxury through positioning, packaging, retail strategy, and relentless attention to detail. From obsessing over shelf velocity to rebranding three times in under a year, this is a masterclass in how modern CPG brands actually win.🔗 LINKS MENTIONEDCadence (10% off with code "OR"): https://us.usecadence.com/openresidency🎙 GUESTRoss Mackay, Founder & CEO of CadenceWebsite: https://us.usecadence.com📬 GET IN TOUCHInstagram: https://instagram.com/openresidencyWebsite: https://openresidency.com/🎯 Powered by beehiiv30% off with code MARK30: https://beehiiv.link/cjp31🎯 Powered by Universal Ads👉 Claim your credit: https://form.typeform.com/to/ckvJ86zT

📬 The playbook behind every episode, straight to your inbox: https://openresidency.com/signup⚡️ BTS & more https://openresidency.com/jeff-byersTIMESTAMPS:00:00:00 Trailer00:00:49 Why Did You Kill A $6 Million Product Overnight?00:05:07 The Biggest Lie In The Supplement Industry00:06:36 Why Is Sourcing So Important?00:07:51 What Do 3rd Party Certifications Actually Mean?00:15:27 Product Development00:20:45 Biggest Misconceptions About Creatine00:29:15 How Did You Get Your First Partnership?00:32:37 How Did The Partnership With Andrew Huberman Start?00:39:16 Partnering With All 32 NFL Teams00:40:55 Big Learnings From Your Partners00:44:26 The Partnership With Arnold00:51:20 Fundraising and Raising Money01:01:46 What Did You Learn From Pete Carroll?01:10:30 What Do You Look For In Hiring?01:18:03 Quickstrike QuestionsIn this episode, we sit down with Jeff Byers, CEO of Momentous, to unpack what it really means to build a high-trust brand in a low-trust industry. Jeff shares why he killed a $6M product overnight to protect the company's standards, how Momentous became trusted by all 32 NFL teams, and why most supplement companies cut corners on sourcing, certification, and dosing.Get 35% off Momentous: https://crrnt.app/MOME/x3v_PO0nShareable (use code MarkMastrandrea)🎙 GUESTJeff Byers, CEO of MomentousWebsite: https://www.livemomentous.com📬 GET IN TOUCHInstagram: https://instagram.com/openresidencyWebsite: https://openresidency.com/🎯 Powered by Universal Ads👉 Claim your credit: https://form.typeform.com/to/ckvJ86zT

👉 Download the Open Residency x Kallaway Content Playbook: https://open-residency.kit.com/kallaway⚡️ BTS & more https://openresidency.com/kallawayTIMESTAMPS:00:00:00 Trailer00:01:08 Biggest Lessons As A Full-Time Creator00:03:19 What Goes Into A Great Hook?00:13:46 The Most Important Framework For Content00:15:39 The Hidden Cheat Code For Instagram Thumbnails00:19:46 The Five Content Games Framework00:33:34 The Seven Lego Bricks For Short Form00:50:48 Most Common Editing Mistakes For Short Form00:53:42 What Metrics Actually Matter For Shorts?01:01:33 Kallaway's Insane Team Structure01:10:57 Why Are You So Bullish On YouTube?01:19:21 Is YouTube More A Packaging Game?01:22:12 Title/Thumbnail Mistakes01:28:08 Key Metrics To Evaluate With YouTube01:34:28 What People Misunderstand About YouTube01:38:22 The Biggest Myth About Virality01:48:51 Content Mix Perspective01:55:14 Building A Community From Your Audience02:02:13 The Biggest Growth Hack for 202602:07:04 AI Tools02:16:51 Stories That Convert02:20:46 Quickfire QuestionsIn this episode, we sit down with Kallaway, the operator quietly building some of the most efficient content machines on the internet. Kallaway breaks down how modern businesses should think about content as infrastructure, not art. We go deep on the content mechanics most never see, how to engineer "desire loops" that earn clicks, and why YouTube should be treated like a professional sport.🔗 KALLAWAY RESOURCESYouTube Academy: https://kallaway.co/youtubeacademy/r/openresidencySandcastles: https://sandcastles.ai/?ref=openresidency🎙 GUESTKallawayWebsite: https://kallaway.co📬 GET IN TOUCHInstagram: https://instagram.com/openresidencyWebsite: https://openresidency.com/🎯 Powered by Universal Ads👉 Claim your credit: https://form.typeform.com/to/ckvJ86zT

👉 Join our private community for operators, marketers, and creators (waitlist) - https://www.newsletter-signup.com/or/⚡️ BTS & more https://openresidency.com/samir-chaudryTIMESTAMPS:00:00:00 Trailer00:01:16 The 3 Rules of YouTube00:12:27 How to Properly Think About Your Audience00:24:14 How To Get Good At Title and Thumbnail00:37:00 How To Research A Vertical00:42:57 How To Avoid Burnout00:47:11 The Hidden Problems With Podcasts Today00:55:21 Respecting the Viewer's Time01:01:04 How Do You Look at Retention?01:05:11 Most Important Metrics for YouTube01:16:16 The Business of Colin and Samir01:18:20 Working With Sponsors and Big Brands01:34:28 Small Deals vs. Big Deals01:37:36 The Education Business01:45:20 Learnings From Press Publish NYC01:50:09 What Are You Excited About?01:54:49 The Palisades Fire02:13:42 The Future of the Media Landscape02:28:15 Working With Colin For Over 10 Years02:29:42 Quickstrike QuestionsIn this episode, we sit down with Samir Chaudry, co-host of Colin and Samir, for a deep conversation about relevance, creative longevity, and what it actually takes to build a career in the modern media landscape. Samir breaks down how creators stay relevant as platforms, formats, and audience expectations constantly shift — and what metrics actually matter in building a lasting media business.🎙 GUESTSamir ChaudryWebsite: https://colinandsamir.com📬 GET IN TOUCHInstagram: https://instagram.com/openresidencyWebsite: https://openresidency.com/🎯 Powered by Manychat🔗 Learn more: https://manychat.com/🎯 Powered by PoppyGet $25 off: https://getpoppy.ai/OpenResidency (use code "OR")

In this episode, we sit down with Dan Koe for a deep conversation about building a Future Proof Skill Stack, navigating AI, and designing a life that isn't dictated by someone else's goals. Dan breaks down why the most important skills today aren't technical, but meta — learning how to learn, how to think, and how to earn. We explore how AI is accelerating the need for adaptability, why taste, narrative, and trust are becoming the real moats, and how creators can stop chasing niches and instead become the niche.

In this episode, we sit down with Mark Manson, bestselling author of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, for a wide-ranging conversation about pain, purpose, momentum, and what it actually takes to build a meaningful life. Mark explains why you can’t want the reward without wanting the cost, how suffering is often self-created through the stories we tell ourselves, and why momentum—not motivation—is the real driver of progress. We go deep on relationships and dating — romance vs compatibility, conditional love, commitment, self-sabotage, and how to know if you’re actually ready for a serious partnership. Mark shares the biggest dating mistakes people make today, and how alignment beats excitement. We also explore creativity, writing, money, building and scaling a new AI company, and why Mark believes AI will fundamentally reshape personal growth, therapy, and the future of self-help.

In this episode, I sit down with Sean Frank, CEO of Ridge, for a deep dive into the systems behind one of the most profitable e-commerce brands operating today. Sean breaks down how Ridge confidently spends $100K/day on ads, why simplicity beats cleverness in performance creative, and the disciplined frameworks that allow Ridge to scale without outside capital. He also shares something he rarely talks about publicly: Ridge's biggest weakness — and why it's actually the one unfair advantage smaller brands still have in 2026.We unpack Ridge's entire performance machine: producing 200+ ad variations every month, hiring creators with editing instincts, building agency-less teams, and treating ad economics with ruthless clarity. Sean explains why most brands fail before they even have a product worth selling, what founders still misunderstand about Meta, and how operational discipline is becoming the new moat in e-commerce. This conversation is a masterclass in scaling, creative iteration, and building lean teams that win — even as the landscape gets harder.

In this episode, I sit down with George Heaton to unpack how a two-year trademark battle nearly ended Represent and how surviving it ignited the creative fire that pushed the brand into its biggest years ever. He breaks down the personal brand flywheel, product discipline, and offline community strategy that helped turn Represent into one of the most influential modern apparel labels today.

In this episode, I sit down with Simon Molnar, founder of Flagship.ai, to break down why 83% of shopping still happens in-store — yet most stores run with almost no data. Simon explains how visual merchandising became the most overlooked lever in retail, why brands misjudge store performance, and how Flagship built the square-foot-level “money map” that finally gives brick-and-mortar the same funnel e-commerce has.We also dive into Simon’s leadership philosophy shaped by Afterpay’s $29B rise — hiring for humility, building A-players, and making every store matter through objective data. This conversation is a masterclass in retail reinvention, operational clarity, and building teams that raise the standard.

In this episode, I sit down with Joel Kocher, the 70-year-old CEO & Co-Founder of Humann, a $200M company redefining cardiovascular health. We unpack how Joel went from early retirement and burnout to discovering the "miracle molecule" nitric oxide — the foundation behind Humann's science-backed approach to longevity. He explains why most people misunderstand heart health, how clinical trials became his edge, and what it takes to build a lasting company.We also dive deep into leadership — from his years as the #2 at Dell to lessons learned from Michael Dell and Steve Jobs. Joel shares the mindset that's kept him young, the frameworks that landed Humann on the Inc. 5000 list ten times, and why focus, conviction, and adaptability matter more than ever in business and life.This conversation is a deep dive into longevity, leadership, and what it really takes to stay young — in business and in life. Enjoy!

In this episode, I sit down with Robert Greene, bestselling author of The 48 Laws of Power, to break down the timeless strategies of power, seduction, and human psychology that drive success in business and life. We dive into:- Why concealing your intentions and talking less creates an aura of power - Never outshining the master and how reputation translates directly into capital - The dangerous allure of free and why formlessness beats rigidity in business- What your twenties should actually be about- Robert's new book and his near-death experience that shaped itThis conversation goes deep into human nature, strategic thinking, and what it really takes to build power that lasts. Enjoy!

This episode is the content creation blueprint for the AI era. Roberto Nickson (RPN) just hit $1.5M in revenue at 85% margins as a one-man creator army — and he's sharing everything. 2 hours of straight value, no gatekeeping.We cover:How Roberto Makes $1.5M as a Solo CreatorNewsletter, Consulting & Building Owned MediaLanding Partnerships with Meta, Adobe & SpotifyThe Metric Brands Actually Care About (Not Views)Positioning = Pricing PowerThe Infinite Content Machine: AI & AutomationBiggest Mistakes Creators Make in Brand DealsFormat is the Formula: Repeatable Systems That ScaleBalancing Organic Content vs Brand Deals (80/20 Rule)Why Traditional Ad Production is CookedInside Roberto’s Workflow: Studio, Editing & AI ToolsTop AI Tools for Creators (Suno, Veo 3, Kling)Why Ideas Are the Real Moat in the Creator EconomyWhy Audio Matters More Than VisualsMaking Your Audience the HeroBuilding for the Future: Instagram, 2027 Social Predictions & AIEnjoy the conversation!👉 Join our private communityfor operators, marketers, and creators (waitlist):https://openresidency.com/signup⚡️ BTS & More: https://openresidency.com/roberto-nickson🔗 Links MentionedSuno – https://suno.comGoogle Veo 3 – https://deepmind.google/technologies/veo/veo-2/Cling 2.1 – https://clingai.comN8N – https://n8n.ioMidjourney – https://midjourney.comNano Banana – https://blog.google/technology/google-deepmind/google-imagen-3/🎙 Guest: Roberto Nickson (RPN), Content Creator & AI StrategistInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/rpn/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@rpnX: https://x.com/rpnickson📬 Get in TouchInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/openresidency/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmastrandrea/Website: https://openresidency.com/Email: info@openresidency.com🎯 Powered by Universal Ads by Comcast CTVWant to scale your brand with CTV ads? Universal Ads is giving the first 50 Open Residency listeners $500 in free ad credits to get started.👉 Claim your credit: https://form.typeform.com/to/ckvJ86zT🔗 Learn more: UniversalAds.com

This week, we dissect the business flywheel behind Sahil Bloom (author of the NYT Best Seller The 5 Types of Wealth) — his initiatives, team, and how he’s scaled it.At the core is the bigger theme: money as a tool (not the goal), the “15 more times” mindset, time as the real asset, and systems to protect your energy.This book changed my life. Enjoy the conversation!

For operators, marketers, and creators — this one's for you. Oren John is rare:He deeply understands both sides of content marketing — the creative and the performance. People with taste and the ability to stay unemotional about metrics are hard to find nowadays.This convo is all signal, no fluff. We rapid-fire through content frameworks, creative reference systems, platform strategy, TikTok Shop, influencer partnerships, how Oren makes money, and a lot more.Enjoy the conversation!

In this episode, I sit down with Brian Garofalow, CEO of Skullcandy, to unpack his leadership philosophy, product strategy, and how he's repositioning the brand for explosive growth in a crowded consumer electronics market.We dive into:Brian’s “People, Process, Product” framework for scaling innovationSkullcandy’s four-bucket system for managing product life cycleHow a bold partnership with Bose redefined product perceptionA behind-the-scenes look at how Skullcandy balances hard sales data with cultural insight to find market white spaceBrian’s playbook for international expansion, avoiding opportunity-cost traps, and focusing where it countsWhether you're building a brand, leading a team, or thinking about product strategy at scale—this conversation is packed with insight from someone operating at the highest level of consumer growth. Enjoy!

In this episode, I sit down with Caleb Ralston, Founder and Brand Strategist at Ralston, to break down what it actually takes to build a brand that sticks—and content that converts. We unpack real frameworks, hard-won lessons, and key insights from working with names like Gary Vaynerchuk and Alex Hormozi.We cover:- The Brand Journey Framework — a four-question system to shape your strategy- Association: how proximity builds powerful brand perception- The 80/20 Rule for content: balancing expertise with personality- Platform-specific tactics: what deserves your attention—and what doesn’t- How to build a content team that solves bottlenecks- Learnings from top-tier operators in branding and mediaEnjoy the conversation!

In this episode, I sit down with Nick Shackelford, Head of Retention and Partner at BREZ, to break down modern customer acquisition and retention strategies for 2025.Nick has managed over $200M in ad spend and brings hard-won insights from scaling multiple brands — including his own agencies, Structured and Konstant Kreative — into this conversation.We get into:Why creative is now the new targeting, with Nick giving the keys on Meta’s evolving algorithmThe ideal framework for customer acquisition in today’s landscapeHow to structure your testing budget between proven winners and fresh creativeConversion tactics that immediately lift performance — from mobile-first design to offer structureThe retention strategies behind BREZ’s drop in subscription churn from 24% to 17%, on a mission toward sub-5%The tactics powering BREZ, one of the fastest-growing beverage brands in the country, on pace to hit $50M in just two yearsHow celebrities like Drake and Druski use subtle content strategies to drive massive viewership — and what brands can learn from itThis is a deep dive on what’s actually working in marketing in 2025.Enjoy the conversation!

In this episode, I sit down with Kent Yoshimura, Co-Founder & CEO of Neurogum, to unpack how the brand became one of TikTok’s fastest-growing success stories and scaled to over $100 million in revenue.We dive into:- The TikTok strategy that transformed Neurogum’s growth- How the team shifted their marketing mix to make TikTok their top-of-funnel channel—while maintaining a 52x ROAS on Amazon with zero ad spend- Their strategic approach to partnerships- A hiring process that’s led to 98% employee retention over three years- The origin story—and how they've sustained a competitive edge through patented manufacturingThis one’s packed with gems. Enjoy the conversation.

In this episode, I sit down with Ryan Bartlett, CEO of True Classic, to break down how they scaled to over $200M+ in annual revenue with a valuation approaching $1B.We get into:The evolution of their marketing strategy from pure direct response to brand buildingHow they leverage customer feedback to drive product development through their membership programTheir unique approach to customer service and community buildingWebsite optimization strategies that helped increase AOV from $36 to $112Key operational insights on running a lean, efficient DTC brandThis one’s packed with actionable insights for brand builders at every stage. Enjoy the conversation!

In this episode, I sit down with Nate Checketts, co-founder and CEO of Rhone, to unpack how a luxury performance-apparel brand went from a single pant to a nine-figure omnichannel business with NBA deals, retail success, and a wildly unique internal wellness system.We dive into:Building Rhone from the ground up into a category-defining brandTheir “12 Pursuits” framework: a monthly habit system blending physical and mental wellnessHow breathwork, sleep tracking, and community-driven wellness drive real performanceThe origin of GoldFusion and how Rhone rethought sustainability (without the greenwashing)Lessons from launching women’s and becoming a multi-category brandBuying out L Catterton and re-taking full control of the businessHow Rhone’s retail strategy beats the odds—and makes moneyWhy investing in mental fitness may be Rhone’s true legacyThis episode goes deep into the systems behind both a high-performance company and a high-performance life. Enjoy the conversation!