The Orbit by Roswell NYC

Roswell NYC

Welcome to the Orbit — the podcast where we have real conversations with the people shaping the e-commerce world. From founders and marketers to developers and operators, we go beyond the buzzwords to hear the honest stories behind the brands, platforms, and ideas that are driving digital commerce forward. Whether you're here to learn, get inspired, or just eavesdrop on some smart people talking shop, you're in the right place. Let’s dive in.

Episodes

  1. From Basquiat to Data: Bridging Art and eCommerce - Louis Monoyudis

    12 JAN

    From Basquiat to Data: Bridging Art and eCommerce - Louis Monoyudis

    In this episode of Orbit, Nihar sits down with Louis Monoyudis, CMO of Artware Editions, to discuss the intersection of high-end art collectibles and digital commerce. From selling accessible pop-art gifts to limited edition Yves Klein tables worth over $25,000, Louis breaks down how Artware balances B2B exclusivity with D2C accessibility. Beyond the art world, Louis shares his "turnaround CEO" mindset for marketing. He explains why founders often suffer from "autobiographical hubris," focusing too much on product features rather than the emotional benefits that actually convert customers. We also look ahead to 2026, diving into the rise of "Agentic Shopping" (AI agents buying on behalf of humans), how to use LLMs for customer sentiment analysis, and why traditional industries like Wine need to embrace the AI revolution or get left behind.

    25 min
  2. From Amazon Receipts to First-Party Data: Bridging the Offline Gap - Sarah (Davidson) Molloy

    29/12/2025

    From Amazon Receipts to First-Party Data: Bridging the Offline Gap - Sarah (Davidson) Molloy

    73% of consumers shop omni-channel, yet most brands have zero visibility into who is buying their products at Target, Amazon, or the local bodega. In this episode, Nihar sits down with Sarah Davidson, the "Jill of All Trades" at Brij, to discuss the "Above the Funnel" approach. Sarah breaks down how brands can compliantly capture first-party data from third-party marketplaces, the role of AI in receipt scanning, and why the future of e-commerce relies on agent-to-agent interactions. Later, Sarah pivots to her personal journey, sharing how she is combating the 2% female funding gap through accessible micro-angel investing.

    24 min
  3. The Accidental Rise of The Email Experience - Jason Donapel

    15/12/2025

    The Accidental Rise of The Email Experience - Jason Donapel

    Nihar Kulkarni welcomes Jason Donapel, founder of The Email Experience, for a candid conversation about the state of retention marketing. Despite running competing agencies, Nihar and Jason discuss the power of an "Open Source" mindset—sharing trade secrets to elevate the entire industry. Jason explains his strategic pivot to becoming an Attentive-exclusive partner for email, citing superior identity resolution and deliverability as his "moat." The duo also explores the cutting edge of AI, specifically the new Model Context Protocol (MCP) and Jason’s internal AI tool, Lexi, which manages brand voice databases and campaign blueprints. From the evolution of SMS to the resurgence of Facebook Messenger, this episode is packed with tactical advice on hitting that elusive 40% revenue goal from retention channels.

    31 min
  4. From Spam Folders to the Primary Inbox - Megan Blissick

    05/12/2025

    From Spam Folders to the Primary Inbox - Megan Blissick

    In this episode of The Orbit, host Nihar Kulkarni sits down with Megan Blissick, Head of Partnerships and Marketing at Orita. Known in the industry as the "Queen of Partnerships," Megan shares her journey from fashion brand operator to tech leader. The conversation centers on the shifting landscape of e-commerce technology. The duo discusses the move from "essential tech" (Shopify, Klaviyo) to "optimization tech"—tools designed to refine brand performance by that critical extra 5%. Megan explains how Orita leverages AI for customer segmentation, solving modern email deliverability issues caused by strict new inbox regulations from providers like Gmail and Yahoo. Finally, they deep dive into the philosophy of successful B2B partnerships, emphasizing that empathy, service, and a "give before you ask" mentality are the keys to longevity in the ecosystem.

    28 min
  5. From Hourly Billing to Recurring Revenue: Scaling Your Agency – Rachel Jacobs

    26/11/2025

    From Hourly Billing to Recurring Revenue: Scaling Your Agency – Rachel Jacobs

    In this episode of The Orbit, host Nihar Kulkarni sits down with the "wrecking ball" of the e-commerce industry, Rachel Jacobs (Founder, E-Commerce Partnerships). Rachel is a powerhouse in the agency space, known for her no-nonsense approach to business growth. She shares her journey from agency COO—where she pioneered some of the first Klaviyo retainers in Europe—to becoming the leading connector between agencies, tech platforms, and brands globally. If you are an agency owner stuck in the "feast or famine" cycle of project-based work, this episode is a masterclass on flipping your business model. Nihar and Rachel discuss the critical transition from time-and-materials billing to sustainable retainer models, the future of agency M&A, and why integrating AI is no longer optional for survival.

    28 min
  6. From Merchandising to Machine Learning - Michelle Drawert | The Orbit

    03/11/2025

    From Merchandising to Machine Learning - Michelle Drawert | The Orbit

    In the latest episode of the Orbit, Shopify’s Michelle Drawert joins Nihar Kulkarni to unpack how e-commerce, creativity, and AI are converging. Michelle shares her journey from early-days merchandising (think pencils and green-and-white printouts) to helping shape Shopify’s approach to intelligent commerce — where technology augments human creativity instead of replacing it.   A must-listen for anyone thinking about the future of retail, AI, and digital strategy.

    37 min
  7. Your Network is Your Net Worth - Joe Fox | The Orbit

    01/08/2025

    Your Network is Your Net Worth - Joe Fox | The Orbit

    In this episode of Interview With, Nihar Kulkarni sits down with Joe Fox, President of Growave, for a candid conversation about his unconventional journey through the e-commerce industry—from founding a digital agency in Australia to leading growth at a leading SaaS loyalty platform. Joe shares insights on building high-trust relationships, regional differences in e-commerce culture, and why tech stack consolidation and unified customer experiences are shaping the future of digital commerce. He also gets real about retention strategy pitfalls, startup grit, and the importance of aligning your team with purpose. Whether you’re in an agency, brand-side, or the tech world, this episode delivers wisdom, honesty, and a few laughs between old friends. Want more of Joe and Nihar? Tune into Growave's podcast here for an episode coming out this summer!: https://www.growave.io/podcasts

    30 min
  8. From Merrill Lynch to Modern Commerce - Dennis Yao Yu | Interview With

    20/06/2025

    From Merrill Lynch to Modern Commerce - Dennis Yao Yu | Interview With

    🚀 From Merrill Lynch to Modern Commerce — Meet Dennis Yu, a true operator who’s pivoted from finance to retail, eComm, marketplaces, and beyond. In this episode, Dennis shares how he hustled his way into the fashion industry, scaled growth at Society6 and Shopify, and why he launched The Other Group to guide brands navigating today’s omnichannel reality. We get into: ⚡ Pivoting careers (more than once) 🛍️ DTC vs. Wholesale dynamics 📦 Supply chain truths post-2020 📈 Trusted partnerships in uncertain times 🤖 The AI-fueled future of video commerce 🎧 Listen in for one of the most grounded, actionable convos on what it takes to build today.

    37 min
  9. Cold Calls to Conference Halls – Roddy Smith | The Orbit

    23/05/2025

    Cold Calls to Conference Halls – Roddy Smith | The Orbit

    From Cold Calls to Conference Halls: Building Lasting Partnerships in E-Commerce In this episode of Interview With, Nihar Kulkarni sits down with Roddy Smith, Director of Partnerships at Clearer.io, to unpack a decade-long journey through the evolving world of e-commerce. They reflect on early challenges, laugh over shared memories from Shopify Unite, and dive deep into how the industry—and their roles within it—have matured. Roddy shares insights into Clearer.io's product suite and the strategic pillars it supports, while both discuss the art of meaningful partnership-building in a world that often glorifies the surface-level “conference life.” If you're curious about entering the partnerships space, growing within it, or just want a behind-the-scenes look at how e-commerce relationships are built and maintained, this episode is packed with wisdom and real talk.

    34 min
  • 9 Episodes

About

Welcome to the Orbit — the podcast where we have real conversations with the people shaping the e-commerce world. From founders and marketers to developers and operators, we go beyond the buzzwords to hear the honest stories behind the brands, platforms, and ideas that are driving digital commerce forward. Whether you're here to learn, get inspired, or just eavesdrop on some smart people talking shop, you're in the right place. Let’s dive in.

Information

  • Creator
    Roswell NYC
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Roswell NYC
  • Show Website
    The Orbit by Roswell NYC