MADWOMEN

Mia Pokriefka and Elissa O'Dell
  • 5.0 (4)
  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to MADWOMEN. The conversation series featuring those mad enough to shape culture, not chase it. We went viral before virality had a name, but building two companies taught us that “build it and they will come” doesn’t cut it in the algorithmic age. Attention isn’t given. It’s earned. Not with noise, but with guts. MADWOMEN is for those who do it differently. Hosted by Mia Pokriefka and Elissa O’Dell, each episode explores the method behind the madness with the boldest minds shaping what we see, share, and buy. @madwomen_studios

  1. 11/04/2025

    THE SCIENCE OF TRUST w/ Seed´s Co-Founder

    Meet Ara Katz, Co-Founder of Seed, the microbiome science company pioneering innovations in probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics. Seed’s work spans from gut and skin health to coral reef restoration—and even microbes in space. Before founding Seed, Ara worked in media, design, and tech. After a personal health experience reshaped her perspective, she set out to reimagine how science is communicated. In this episode, Ara shares how she and her team transformed microbiome science into a cultural movement, bridging the gap between cutting-edge science and everyday life. In this episode, we get into: Why you can’t brand your way to trustSeed’s anti–gatekeeping approach to knowledgeM- The most underrated ingredient in product designLaunching the first vaginal synbiotic and evolving women’s healthWhy AI can be a tool for empowerment—not replacement. This is: The Science of Trust Welcome to the MADNESS. Connect w/ Ara Katz & Seed https://www.instagram.com/arakatz/ https://www.instagram.com/seed/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/arakatz/ Connect w/ the MADWOMEN https://www.instagram.com/madwomen_studios/ https://www.tiktok.com/@madwomen_studios https://www.instagram.com/miapokriefka/ https://www.instagram.com/elissaodell/ www.madwomenstudios.com 💌 Subscribe for new episodes 💌

    1h 9m

  2. 10/28/2025

    THE ART OF LISTENING IN A NOISY WORLD w/ The RealReal's Chief Brand Officer

    Meet Kristen Naiman, The RealReal’s Chief Brand Officer and the creative mind behind Kate Spade’s iconic Misadventure series with Anna Kendrick. Before The RealReal, she spent seven years at Isaac Mizrahi, styled Hanson (yes, the boy band), and began her career styling for Harper’s Bazaar, Teen Vogue, Paper, Nylon, The New York Times Magazine, and Rolling Stone. This MADWOMEN episode is about creativity. But it’s also about our roles in capitalism. Kristen’s philosophy? True creativity comes from noticing the world around you, surrounding yourself with diverse voices, and really listening. If you’re interested in… ✨ Sharpening your creative instinct ✨ Building the world you want to live in ✨ Challenging consumption cycles ✨ Creative leadership that lifts others up ✨ How a brand creates real value ✨ Why Misadventure became a viral phenomenon ✨ A secret way to use the The RealReal …then join us for this week’s episode. This is: The Art of Listening in a Noisy World: Capitalism, Creativity, and the Stories We Hear Welcome to the Madness. Connect w/ Kristen Naiman & The Real Real https://www.instagram.com/kristennaiman/ https://www.instagram.com/therealreal/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-naiman-26449528/ Connect w/ the MADWOMEN https://www.instagram.com/madwomen_studios/ https://www.tiktok.com/@madwomen_studios https://www.instagram.com/miapokriefka/ https://www.instagram.com/elissaodell/ www.madwomenstudios.com 💌 Subscribe for new episodes 💌

    1h 5m

  3. 10/21/2025

    DESIGNING FOR DELIGHT: THE BALA WAY w/ the Co-Founder of Bala

    Meet Natalie Holloway, Bala’s Co-Founder, the brand that turned dumbbells into design objects and redefined what it means to move. After a career in advertising, Natalie and her husband, Max, launched Bala with one goal: to make fitness delightful. From the cult-favorite Bala Bangles to collaborations with Ralph Lauren, Spanx, and Pucci. Bala has become a global symbol of play, color, and creativity in wellness. In this episode of MADWOMEN, Natalie shares how Bala reimagined fitness—proving that design-led products do more than just sell. Why you need to listen (even if you don’t have a physical product), because we get into: how design itself can be the product strategywhy rest and movement are essential to building something that laststhe power of building your roadmap with your community, not just for themknowing when to protect the vision—and when to walk awaysaying no to influencers and yes to collaborations This is: Designing for Delight: The Bala Way Welcome to the Madness. Connect w/ Natalie Holloway + Bala https://www.instagram.com/natalieholloway/ https://www.instagram.com/bala/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-holloway-bab86521/ Connect w/ the MADWOMEN https://www.instagram.com/madwomen_studios/ https://www.tiktok.com/@madwomen_studios https://www.instagram.com/miapokriefka/ https://www.instagram.com/elissaodell/ www.madwomenstudios.com 💌 Subscribe for new episodes 💌

    51 min

  4. 10/14/2025

    HOW TO BUILD A BRAND THAT SHAPES CULTURE w/ Bobbie’s Chief Brand Officer

    Meet Bobbie’s Chief Brand Officer, Kim Chappell. She’s reimagining a culture that truly supports parents and kids, and the role brands play in it. The Bobbie brand has been honored by Time’s 100 Most Innovative Companies, the Webby Awards, and the Shorty Awards. Kim was named one of Forbes’ 50 Most Entrepreneurial CMOs. Before joining Bobbie, Kim was a journalist, and storyteller at Square, not a traditional marketer. That’s exactly why her approach works. She builds brands by making people feel, not by chasing metrics. From assembling her own desk in a basement to launching the first breastfeeding billboard in Times Square, Kim has helped turn Bobbie into a movement that’s redefining culture. Under her direction, Bobbie has launched bold campaigns featuring Meghan Trainor, Ashley Graham, Tan France and landed her product on Target shelves nationwide. If you want to shape where culture is headed, this episode will inspire you to: Build lasting trust with your audienceLaunch before you have a productTurn followers into a true digital villageAvoid performative marketingLead with empathy—not just KPIsAnd added bonus, we unpack what it means to lead with your gut—reflecting on authenticity, noise, and staying inspired in an algorithmic world. This is: How to Build a Brand That Shapes Culture Welcome to the Madness. Connect w/ Kim Chappell + Bobbie linkedin.com/in/kim-chappell-3599415 https://www.instagram.com/kimgchappy/ https://www.hibobbie.com/ Connect w/ the MADWOMEN https://www.instagram.com/madwomen_studios/ https://www.tiktok.com/@madwomen_studios https://www.instagram.com/miapokriefka/ https://www.instagram.com/elissaodell/ www.madwomenstudios.com 💌 Subscribe for new episodes 💌

    58 min

  5. 10/07/2025

    THE CHAOS, CRAFT, AND COST OF VIRALITY w/ Hearst Magazines's VP of Video

    Meet Jason Ikeler, Hearst Magazines’ VP of Video and Creative Strategy. From Cosmo to Harper’s Bazaar to ELLE, Jason is likely the reason you can’t stop scrolling. He’s behind some of your favorite videos on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube—everything from celebrity interviews to fashion shoots. Jason has created hit series with stars like Billie Eilish, Julia Fox, and John Legend. In this episode, Jason takes us inside the chaos and craft of creating original content: How to balance personal taste, ad $$, & audience expectationsJason’s philosophy: “there are no new ideas”Originality > TrendsWhy Phoning It In became a viral hit w/ Billie Eilish, Julia Fox, etcThe role of failureWhere ideas come from (not from 15-person brainstorms)What it really takes to get celebrities off scriptThe secret sauce that keeps Hearst at the center of culture This is: The Chaos, Craft, and Cost of Virality Welcome to the MADNESS Connect w/ Jason Ikeler https://www.instagram.com/jasonikeler/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonikeler/ Connect w/ the MADWOMEN https://www.instagram.com/madwomen_studios/ https://www.tiktok.com/@madwomen_studios https://www.instagram.com/miapokriefka/ https://www.instagram.com/elissaodell/ www.madwomenstudios.com 💌 Subscribe for new episodes 💌

    41 min

  6. 09/23/2025

    CUTTING THROUGH THE NOISE w/ the CEO of NOYZ

    Meet Malena Higuera, CEO of NOYZ. Malena spent nearly two decades at L’Oréal shaping iconic brands like Urban Decay and Dermablend, after early roles at Maybelline and Avon. She embraced e-commerce marketing before anyone believed in it and went on to pioneer digital-first strategies at scale. And she continues to lead the charge, now by optimizing omni-channel experiences—spanning personal DMs, a hotline, and a California scent tour. What sets Malena apart? She blends an anthropologist’s curiosity, a marketer’s sharp instincts, and a mentor’s generosity, creating product experiences that are truly human-centered. In this episode, we get into: How to win the “Hunger Games” (hint, it’s using innovation)The community as “founder”Why constraints breed creativity, with examples from L’OréalThe future: how AI, science, and personalization are evolving the industryWhat she’s learned from 174 coffee dates This is: Cutting Through the Noise Welcome to the Madness. Connect w/ Malena https://www.linkedin.com/in/malenahiguera/ https://www.instagram.com/malenahiguera/ https://www.instagram.com/noyz_official/ Connect w/ the MADWOMEN https://www.instagram.com/madwomen_studios/ https://www.tiktok.com/@madwomen_studios https://www.instagram.com/miapokriefka/ https://www.instagram.com/elissaodell/ www.madwomenstudios.com 💌 Subscribe for new episodes 💌

    1h 16m

  7. 09/09/2025

    360 WORLD-BUILDING IN ROSE-COLORED GLASSES w/ Jordan Robin

    Meet Jordan Robin — Creative Director and Designer working at the intersection of fashion, art, design, and production. Jordan has shaped worlds at Calvin Klein under Raf Simons, led creative at Reformation, and now runs her own LA-based consultancy, JNR Studio. Jordan’s 360° vision and a talent for world-building blurs the boundaries of art, culture, and commerce. What makes the worlds Jordan builds so rich? She refuses to rely on Pinterest boards or Instagram trends. Instead, she looks to the physical world. That approach, paired with her intuitive sense memory and sharp creative instincts, gives her work a depth and originality that cut through the noise. In this episode, we get into: What it really takes to build a 360º brand world people want to live inWhy the best ideas live offlineHow to build up creative reservesHow collaboration becomes a craft and finding real partnersThe defense of rose-colored glasses This is: 360 World-Building in Rose-Colored Glasses Welcome to the Madness.

    54 min

  8. 08/26/2025

    FEEDING THE FRENZY w/ Ogilvy’s Head of Influencer Marketing, NA

    Meet Ansley Williams, she’s been shaping influencer marketing since the days when influencers were called bloggers. As Head of Influencer Marketing, North America at Ogilvy, she has grown this division by 900 % working with brands like CeraVe, IKEA, IBM, and many more. Before Ogilvy, she built large-scale influencer teams and led everything from celebrity-driven commercials to social-first campaigns. Today, she's bringing her expertise to MADWOMEN and breaking down the strategy behind one of the most impactful influencer-led campaigns. In this episode, we get into: The influencer play that cut through the Super Bowl noiseHow 450 influencers, a pop culture prank, and Michael Cera turned skincare into a cultural obsessionThe backstage pass to Influencer MarketingWhy Human-First winsWhat happens when you rip up the playbook This is: Feeding the Frenzy Welcome to the Madness. Connect w/ Ansley https://www.linkedin.com/in/answilliams/ https://www.instagram.com/ogilvy?igsh=cXhxMTl5emtmdXRh Connect w/ MADWOMEN https://www.instagram.com/madwomen_studios/ https://www.tiktok.com/@madwomen_studios https://www.instagram.com/miapokriefka/ https://www.instagram.com/elissaodell/ www.madwomenstudios.com 💌 Subscribe for new episodes 💌

    49 min
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Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Welcome to MADWOMEN. The conversation series featuring those mad enough to shape culture, not chase it. We went viral before virality had a name, but building two companies taught us that “build it and they will come” doesn’t cut it in the algorithmic age. Attention isn’t given. It’s earned. Not with noise, but with guts. MADWOMEN is for those who do it differently. Hosted by Mia Pokriefka and Elissa O’Dell, each episode explores the method behind the madness with the boldest minds shaping what we see, share, and buy. @madwomen_studios

Information

  • Creator
    Mia Pokriefka and Elissa O'Dell
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Mia Pokriefka and Elissa O'Dell
  • Show Website
    MADWOMEN