Social Currency with Sammi Cohen

Social Currency

On Social Currency, Sammi Cohen unpacks the stories that are shaping business, culture and the intersection of the two. From boardrooms to Instagram trends, Sammi speaks with business leaders to connect the dots between brand, consumer and influence, so you don’t just keep up—you get ahead. New episodes drop every Tuesday and Friday. Follow now to stay in the know. Want more? Find Sammi on Instagram @sammicohentalks.

  1. 4d ago

    Raina Moskowitz (The Knot) on the Wedding Economy, the Taylor Swift Effect and AI Planning

    About two million couples get married in the U.S. every year… and despite economic pressure, they continue to spend an average of $34,000 on the big day. So, why has the wedding industry remained so resilient? This week, Sammi sits down with The Knot CEO Raina Moskowitz to unpack the business of saying “I do.” Raina shares what it was like leaving Etsy to replace The Knot’s longtime founder, how weddings have changed in the last decade, and how Gen Z is reshaping the industry. Then, Raina breaks down the economics of the modern wedding, from the growing divide between elaborate celebrations and intimate ceremonies to why guest count remains the biggest driver of cost. Later, Raina addresses the New Yorker story that questioned The Knot’s business practices and explains how customer criticism influenced the company’s product roadmap, including its new “Close the Loop” feature designed to reduce ghosting between couples and wedding professionals. Plus, she shares how The Knot is integrating with ChatGPT, what AI could take off couples’ plates during the planning process and why trusted data may become even more important as wedding searches increasingly begin inside AI platforms. Finally, Raina weighs in on wedding trends, the influence of celebrity weddings and how she knew she was ready to stop being the strong number two and take the CEO seat. Follow Sammi Cohen on Instagram  Follow Raina’s work Here’s What Sammi Covers with Raina: 00:00 Raina Moskowitz’s Social Currency  02:03 Partner Message: Shopify 02:58 Raina’s Career Story 05:37 Scaling Etsy During the Pandemic 07:08 Leaving Etsy to Become CEO of The Knot 10:03 Is There a “Right Time” To Take the Leap? 11:47 Replacing a Longtime Founder 13:45 How Weddings Have Changed 16:08 Traditions Couples Are Ditching and Keeping 18:10 Partner Message: Bilt 21:36 Wedding Planning 25:39 How the K-Shaped Economy is Reshaping Weddings 32:30 The Push for Greater Vendor Pricing Transparency 35:55 The Social Media Effect37:55 The “Fake Brides” Story 40:04 The “Close the Loop” Feature and Reducing Vendor Ghosting 45:13 How WeddingPro Helps Small Businesses Grow 48:08 The Knot’s ChatGPT Integration and the Future of AI Planning 51:47 Lightning Round 53:06 Social Currency Corner Thanks to Our Sponsors! Bilt:  joinbilt.com/socialcurrency  Shopify: shopify.com/socialcurrency Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Raina Moskowitz (The Knot) on the Wedding Economy, the Taylor Swift Effect and AI Planning

  2. Jul 28

    Kory Marchisotto (e.l.f. Beauty) on Acquiring Rhode, Building a Billion-Dollar Brand and Responding When Campaigns Don’t Land

    When Kory Marchisotto joined e.l.f. Beauty, the company had less than 10% brand awareness and roughly $200 million in revenue. Today, e.l.f.’s brands generate approximately $1.8 billion in global consumption—and have become some of the most culturally relevant names in beauty. In this episode, Kory joins Sammi from the Cannes Lions Festival to explain how she brought the rigor of luxury brand-building to an affordable beauty company designed for the “happy many” rather than the “happy few.” She shares why every major decision at e.l.f. begins with its community, how the company turns comments and cultural signals into campaigns, and the story behind the e.l.f. language that helped create the brand’s cult following. Kory also takes Sammi inside e.l.f.’s billion-dollar acquisition of Hailey Bieber’s Rhode, including the business metrics and shared values that made the partnership stand out. She explains why e.l.f. publicly addressed its first global price increase, how the company maintains premium quality and strict safety standards at accessible prices, and why it continues to enter unexpected spaces like Twitch, Roblox, gaming, sports, and the Super Bowl. Plus, Kory reveals how her team created a Jennifer Coolidge Super Bowl campaign in less than three weeks, the framework she uses when a marketing campaign doesn’t land, and why e.l.f. has granted $250 million in stock to employees outside the C-suite. Toward the end, she opens up about the deeply personal ambition inspired by her father and shares the simple three-step system e.l.f. uses to move from an idea to execution. Follow Sammi Cohen on Instagram  Read more about e.l.f. x Rhode, e.l.f. x Twitch, the Super Bowl ad, and So Many Dicks Here’s What Sammi Covers with Kory: 00:00 Kory Marchisotto’s Social Currency 02:27 What Cannes Taught Kory About Great Creative Work 04:44 How e.l.f. Grew From $200 Million to $1.8 Billion 06:36 Bringing Luxury Brand-Building to Affordable Beauty 09:48 Serving the “Happy Many,” Not the “Happy Few” 10:56 Why Every e.l.f. Idea Starts With the Community 12:53 Finding the Answers Between the Comments 16:44 What Kory Initially Thought of the Name e.l.f. 17:30 How e.l.f. Created Its Own Language 20:18 The F-Bomb That Inspired an e.l.f. Bomb 22:22 Does Hair Still Fit Into Eyes, Lips, Face? 24:29 Inside e.l.f.’s Billion-Dollar Acquisition of Rhode 25:47 Why Rhode’s Growth Was So Rare 27:00 The Dinner That Sealed the Partnership 28:31 Why e.l.f. Publicly Announced Its Price Increase 31:00 How e.l.f. Delivers Prestige Quality Under $10 31:43 What “Clean Beauty” Actually Means at e.l.f. 32:48 Why e.l.f. Entered Twitch and Roblox 33:30 The Brand Ethos Behind Every Marketing Decision 35:36 Creating a Safe Space for Women in Gaming 38:03 Making a Super Bowl Ad in Three Weeks 40:11 Building the Muscle to Move at e.l.f. Speed 41:40 The Cultural Insight Behind an 11-Day Campaign 43:17 What to Do When a Marketing Campaign Misses 44:24 Kory’s Three-Part Crisis Framework 47:25 Why Every e.l.f. Employee Receives Stock 48:00 Operating Like a Startup at a $2 Billion Company 50:48 The Personal Story Behind Kory’s Ambition 53:46 The Accomplishments She Wishes Her Father Could See 54:30 Lightning Round 54:54 The Beauty Trend Kory Would Retire Tomorrow 55:23 Kory’s Favorite e.l.f. Collaboration 57:00 Vision, Alignment, Execution58:19 How Young Is Too Young for Beauty Products? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Kory Marchisotto (e.l.f. Beauty) on Acquiring Rhode, Building a Billion-Dollar Brand and Responding When Campaigns Don’t Land

  3. Jul 21

    Jennifer Wong (Aritzia) on Rising from Sales Associate to CEO, the Styling Suite Experience, and Building a Generational Brand

    Jennifer Wong started as a Sales Associate at Aritzia… 39-years later, she’s running the company as CEO. Today, Jennifer joins Sammi to share how she almost left Aritzia for a career in banking, why founder Brian Hill convinced her to stay, and what it was like succeeding him after nearly four decades working alongside him. She explains the philosophy behind Aritzia's "everyday luxury," why the company has continued investing in physical retail while others have pulled back, and the thinking behind some of its most distinctive experiences (think mirrorless fitting rooms and complimentary personal styling appointments). Jennifer also breaks down how Aritzia navigated tariffs and supply chain disruptions, why timeless design is central to the brand's sustainability strategy, and what she thinks so many direct-to-consumer brands got wrong. Plus, she shares the leadership principles that have helped Aritzia retain employees for decades and why she still visits boutiques every few months. Follow ⁠Sammi Cohen on Instagram ⁠ Subscribe to ⁠the Social Currency newsletter⁠ Follow Jennifer Wong and ⁠Aritzia⁠ Here's What Sammi Covers with Jennifer: 00:00 Jennifer Wong's Social Currency 02:14 How Jennifer Went From Sales Associate to CEO 04:03 The Banking Job She Almost Took 06:08 The Conversation That Changed Her Career 07:22 Saying Yes to Every Opportunity08:41 Aritzia's "40-Year Overnight Success" 10:28 Succeeding Founder Brian Hill as CEO 14:12 Why Aritzia Is Still Betting on Physical Retail 15:35 The Strategy Behind Mirrorless Fitting Rooms 18:17 Inside Aritzia's Styling Experience 20:47 Defining "Everyday Luxury" 21:09 How Aritzia Built a Multi-Generational Brand 23:33 Designing Clothes That Feel Timeless 25:27 Why Aritzia Creates Its Own Brands 27:14 Jennifer's Take on Sustainable Fashion 29:25 How Aritzia Prepared for the Tariffs 31:00 The Supply Chain Pivot That Happened in One Month 33:28 Why Aritzia Keeps Menswear Separate 35:01 The Secret to 39 Years of Employee Retention 37:04 What Jennifer Looks for When Hiring 39:25 The Future of Fred Segal 42:44 Jennifer's Leadership System 43:40 Why She Visits Every Boutique 44:44 What Aritzia Thinks Other Retailers Get Wrong 45:41 Why Brand Has Always Come First 47:48 Never Losing Sight of the Customer 49:08 What's Missing From Most In-Store Shopping Experiences Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Jennifer Wong (Aritzia) on Rising from Sales Associate to CEO, the Styling Suite Experience, and Building a Generational Brand

  4. Jul 14

    Laney Crowell (Saie Beauty) on Raising Her First $1 Million, Building a Top Sephora Brand, and Magazine Culture

    What started as Laney Crowell's passion for magazines, beauty, and storytelling became Saie Beauty, one of the fastest-growing clean beauty brands in the world and a standout success story at Sephora. In this episode, Laney joins Sammi to share how she went from working in editorial and at Estée Lauder to raising her first million dollars with no fundraising experience, launching Saie just months before the pandemic, and turning an early rejection from Sephora into a nationwide launch. She explains why she wanted Saie to be a top 10 Sephora brand from day one and the tactical fundraising lessons she wishes every founder knew. Plus, she opens up about the realities of leading a fast-growing company, the trade-offs of building her dream business while raising two children, and what still keeps her up at night as CEO. Follow Sammi Cohen on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter Follow what Laney is working on with Saie Here's What Sammi Covers with Laney: 00:00 Laney Crowell's Social Currency 02:00 Feeling Like She Was Meant to Be a Founder 06:34 Why Resilience Is a Founder's Greatest Skill 08:00 Storytelling as a Competitive Advantage 12:51 Fundraising Without Any Experience 14:21 The Power of "Expanders" 16:21 Raising Her First $1 Million 17:23 Why Every "No" Gets You Closer to a "Yes" 18:30 Perfecting the Pitch One Meeting at a Time 19:47 Building Saie to Be a Top Sephora Brand 21:03 Why Investors Bet on Founders, Not Ideas 23:52 Sephora's First Rejection 26:22 The Call That Changed Everything 28:18 Launching Through COVID 29:24 Building a Beauty Brand During a Downturn 31:21 The Three Most Important Early Hires 34:37 How Laney Hires Great People 36:13 Why Sustainability Has to Be Built Into the Business 41:16 What Actually Brings Customers to Saie 42:07 Staying Focused in a Crowded Industry 43:39 What Keeps Laney Up at Night 45:46 Why Community Is Beauty's Most Misused Buzzword 47:33 Creating Value Beyond the Product 48:28 Why Founder-Led Content Matters More Than Ever 49:45 The Trade-Offs of Building a Dream Company 51:05 Laney's Biggest Pinch-Me Moment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Laney Crowell (Saie Beauty) on Raising Her First $1 Million, Building a Top Sephora Brand, and Magazine Culture

  5. Jul 7

    Haley Sacks (Mrs. Dow Jones) on Money Psychology, Wealth Hacks, and How to Say No to an Expensive Bachelorette

    From the FIRE movement, to the rent versus buy debate and financial fibs, today Sammi is tackling the biggest money questions of the moment with Haley Sacks. Haley Sacks (Mrs. Dow Jones) has become one of the most influential voices in financial education, building a media empire around the idea that the secrets to wealth should be available to everyone. Haley joins Sammi to discuss the psychology behind our earliest money beliefs, why she publicly pushed back on "girl math," and the money moves future rich people are making now. They also dive into creator entrepreneurship, including how Haley turned comedy into a seven-figure business, why newsletters are her most valuable asset, and the revenue strategy behind building a sustainable creator business.  Follow Sammi Cohen on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter Check out Haley’s book Future Rich Person Here’s What Sammi Covers with Haley: 00:00 Haley Sacks’ Social Currency 02:06 When Do You Become a "Future Rich Person"? 04:05 Growing Up Around Wealth Without Financial Literacy 06:02 Why Your Relationship With Money Is Formed by Age Seven 08:17 The Money Advice Women Actually Need 09:34 Building a Career Before the Creator Economy Existed 12:44 The Comedy Rule Behind Haley’s Content 16:00 Audience vs. Community 18:20 Why IRL Is More Important Than Ever 19:28 Why Haley Thinks "Girl Math" Is Harmful 22:27 Money Is a Relationship, Not Just a Number 24:31 Haley’s Take on the Trad Wife Movement 29:47 Friends Should Share Salaries 35:03 How Haley Built a Seven-Figure Creator Business 36:00 Why Newsletters Beat Social Media 37:49 Creator vs. Creator-Entrepreneur 40:47 Financial Advice vs. Financial Education 43:13 Does Personal Responsibility Ignore Systemic Problems? 47:34 The Hardest Chapter of Future Rich Person 50:12 Why Every Creator Should Start a Podcast 54:03 Is the FIRE Movement a Cult? 55:27 Renting Forever: Smart or Financial Failure? 57:05 Should You Ever Lie to Your Partner About Money? 58:18 The Worst Money Advice on TikTok 59:34 Haley’s Most Defensible Splurge 01:00:42 Therapy or a Financial Advisor First? 01:02:05 Haley’s Productivity System 01:03:52 Navigating Rising Prices Without Giving Up 01:07:12 How to Say "No" to an Expensive Bachelorette Party Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  6. Jun 30

    Jamie Siminoff (Ring) on Near Bankruptcy, Amazon, and Shark Tank

    What does building a billion-dollar company actually feel like? According to Ring founder Jamie Siminoff, it's far less glamorous than most founder stories make it seem. Jamie joins Sammi to unpack the journey from almost running out of money to building Ring into one of the biggest consumer tech acquisitions in history. He explains why entrepreneurship can be deeply traumatic, how close Ring came to bankruptcy before appearing on Shark Tank, and why the rejection that made headlines wasn't nearly as important as what happened afterward. They also discuss why Jamie spent nearly all of Ring's remaining cash buying Ring.com, the lawsuit that nearly destroyed Amazon's acquisition, why he eventually walked away from running Ring despite loving the company, and what brought him back years later. Follow Sammi Cohen on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter Check out Jamie’s book Ding Dong 00:00 Jamie Siminoff’s Social Currency 02:03 Partner Message: Mercury for Business Banking 03:22 Why Entrepreneurship Is More Traumatic Than People Admit 05:20 Why Jamie Came Back to Ring 07:30 Life After Selling Ring to Amazon 08:50 Knowing When It's Time to Walk Away 09:30 Why Retirement Didn't Last 11:10 The Story Jamie Almost Didn't Tell 13:15 Why You Shouldn't Start a Company for Money 14:30 The Mission Behind Ring 16:00 Can You Actually Measure Safer Neighborhoods? 18:00 Partner Message: Rula 19:14 Partner Message: Mercury for Personal Banking 20:28 The Customer Stories That Make It All Worth It 22:00 How Ring Became a Household Name 24:15 How Close Ring Came to Bankruptcy 26:05 The Shark Tank Effect 27:13 Why Rejection Wasn't Ring's Biggest Break 29:07 The Survivorship Bias of Entrepreneurship 30:19 Why AI Will Reward Builders 31:46 The $1 Million Bet on Ring.com 35:30 Why "DoorBot" Had to Die 36:44 Rebuilding Ring From Scratch 37:07 Partner Message: Bilt 38:08 The Lawsuit That Almost Killed the Amazon Deal 40:40 From the Highest High to the Lowest Low 42:30 The Settlement That Saved Ring 43:24 Building a Hypergrowth Company While Running Out of Money 44:27 Calling Amazon Back 46:53 Being a Solo Founder 50:39 Superbowl Ad 01:00:00 Social Currency Corner Thanks to Our Sponsors! Mercury: mercury.com  Rula: rula.com/socialcurrency Bilt:  joinbilt.com/socialcurrency  Shopify: shopify.com/socialcurrency  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  7. Jun 23

    Peter Semple (Depop) on Scaling Beyond Gen Z, the CMO to CEO Pipeline, and the eBay Deal

    Peter Semple is CEO of Depop,  the fashion resale marketplace that became one of Gen Z's most influential shopping platforms and completely changed how a new generation thinks about secondhand fashion.  Peter joins Sammi to break down how Depop built a community-first brand, why the company made the surprising decision to eliminate seller fees, and what it takes to scale beyond Gen Z without losing cultural relevance. They also discuss why Peter wants Depop to become the "Nike of resale," the future of AI-powered shopping, and what the recently announced $1.2 billion acquisition by eBay means for the next chapter of the business. Plus: why Depop keeps showing up cultural moments (from rap lyrics to SNL), and what happens when superfans become employees. Follow Sammi Cohen on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter Follow Peter and Depop Here’s What Sammi Covers with Peter: 00:00 Peter Semple’s Social Currency 02:14 Partner Message: Mercury for Personal03:36 From Copywriter to CEO05:49 What Google Creative Lab Taught Him About Brands08:04 Leaving Google for a Startup10:13 How Sneakers Led Him to Depop11:58 Why Depop Hires Its Own Users 14:34 Partner Message: Rula 15:49 Partner Message: Mercury for Business17:08 The Mindset Shift From CMO to CEO20:07 How Depop Scales Without Losing Gen Z24:25 Building the “Nike of Resale”26:01 Why Depop Eliminated Seller Fees29:13 The Power of Circular Fashion 30:06 Partner Message: Bilt 31:07 Partner Message: Shopify32:22 Why Brands Should Earn, Not Chase, Cultural Relevance35:10 From SNL to Rap Lyrics: Becoming Part of Culture38:06 What the $1.2 Billion eBay Acquisition Means42:13 Can Sustainability Beat Fast Fashion?45:20 Why Shopping Should Feel Like a Treasure Hunt46:56 How AI Is Changing Fashion Resale50:03 Will AI Change How We Discover Products?52:38 Depop’s Competitive Advantage55:00 The Secret Behind the Name “Depop” Thanks to Our Sponsors! Mercury: mercury.com  Rula: rula.com/socialcurrency Bilt:  joinbilt.com/socialcurrency  Shopify: shopify.com/socialcurrency Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  8. Jun 16

    Gary Vaynerchuk (VaynerX) on the Next Digital Gold Rush, AI, and Intellectual Property

    Twenty years after uploading his first YouTube video, Gary Vaynerchuk is still obsessed with where attention is going next. Today, he joins Sammi to talk about his predictions and why it’s not too late to get started on social media. Gary explains why he believes social media has become “interest media,” how AI and authenticity are not mutually exclusive, and why quantity remains one of the biggest competitive advantages in content. They also discuss the rise of live shopping, why Gary is betting big on IRL experiences, and the long-term vision behind VeeFriends—his modern intellectual property empire centered around optimism, accountability, and character development. Along the way, Gary shares his approach to mental health, whether he wants his kids to take over his business, and the one thing he still hasn’t done yet. Plus, they revisit one of Sammi’s favorite pieces of Gary’s content… and it’s a real tearjerker. Follow Sammi Cohen on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter Follow Gary Vaynerchuk and VeeFriends Here’s What Sammi Covers with Gary: 00:00 Gary Vaynerchuk’s Social Currency 02:14 Partner Message: Mercury for Business 03:37 Uploading His First YouTube Video 20 Years Ago 05:34 Why Gary Only Talks About What He Knows 07:22 Why Social Media Became “Interest Media” 09:35 The Platform Predictions That Made Gary Famous 12:13 Why Content Merit Matters More Than Followers 14:20 Partner Message: Rula 15:36 Partner Message: Bilt 16:36 AI, Authenticity, and the Creator Dilemma 17:57 Why Quantity Is a Competitive Advantage 19:00 The Power of “And” Instead of “Or” 20:25 Why Gary Is Betting Big on IRL Experiences 21:14 The Rise of Analog in a Digital World 22:24 What Gary Will Never Outsource to AI 24:20 Why Great Businesses Ignore Personal Preference 25:12 Will Humans Eventually Marry AI? 26:23 The Upside of AI That People Ignore 27:33 The Video That Best Captures Gary’s Philosophy 28:53 Why Gary Cares So Much About Underdogs 30:10 The Difference Between Positivity and Delusion32:20 Gary’s Approach to Mental Health 33:23 Partner Message: Mercury for Personal 34:37 Partner Message: Shopify 35:57 What Gary Wants for His Kids 37:50 Why VeeFriends Is His Most Important Project 39:34 Building an IP Empire Through Character-Based Storytelling 42:13 Why Live Shopping Is Finally Taking Off 44:10 Gary’s Advice for Sammi’s New Live Show 46:06 Why Creators Need More Content on More Platforms 46:29 Gary’s First Viral Video 47:33 Who Gets the Good News—and Who Gets the Bad News 48:08 Whether Gary Will Ever Take a Real Break 49:28 The 15/85 System That Runs His Career Thanks to Our Sponsors! Mercury: mercury.com  Rula: rula.com/socialcurrency Bilt:  joinbilt.com/socialcurrency  Shopify: shopify.com/socialcurrency Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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About

On Social Currency, Sammi Cohen unpacks the stories that are shaping business, culture and the intersection of the two. From boardrooms to Instagram trends, Sammi speaks with business leaders to connect the dots between brand, consumer and influence, so you don’t just keep up—you get ahead. New episodes drop every Tuesday and Friday. Follow now to stay in the know. Want more? Find Sammi on Instagram @sammicohentalks.

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