Dear Twentysomething

Erica Wenger
  • 4.9 (62)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY
Dear Twentysomething

The Dear Twentysomething podcast started because we wanted to create a space for ambitious and curious twentysomethings to connect with the successful changemakers they most look up to. A bit about me (your host!)... I'm Erica Wenger, a twentysomething entrepreneur and investor, and I'm so grateful for this badass community of twentysomethings who are here to get knowledge and be inspired! While the twenties can be a time full of questions and doubts, we’re here to humanize the whole thing. Sometimes you’ll hear from successful trailblazers who come on to share the highs and lows of their 20s, and other times you’ll hear words of wisdom from experts who will speak on a topic relevant for twentysomethings. And then on occasion, it’ll just be me on the mic hosting an episode where I share a recent reflection or story from my own life as I too am navigating this wild decade. Thank you for being here! Podcasts released every TUESDAY.

  1. Solo Episode: Season 4 Recap

    MAY 6

    Solo Episode: Season 4 Recap

    This week, our host Erica Wenger wraps up an incredible Season 4 of Dear Twentysomething! 🎉 Join us as we reflect on some of the most memorable guests and standout moments from the season. Erica shares her takeaways, favorite conversations, and the wisdom we’ve gathered along the way. Plus, a sneak peek at what’s in store for Season 5! Whether you’ve been with us since the beginning or just discovered the show, this episode is the perfect way to celebrate how far we’ve come and where we’re headed next! Follow Us! Erica Wenger: @erica_wenger Dear Twentysomething: @deartwentysomething

    4 min
  2. Melanie Strong: Founding Partner at NEXT VENTURES

    APR 29

    Melanie Strong: Founding Partner at NEXT VENTURES

    This week, we chat with Melanie Strong! Mel started her career as a first grade teacher and journalist. A fateful interview with her running hero Joan Benoit Samuelson led to a long-shot interview for an entry level job at Nike. She spent 17 years there, where she led several businesses including Nike Women and Nike Skateboarding, and worked on the launch of the Nike Running and Training Club apps.   Mel started angel investing and advising early stage founders in 2017, and left Nike to co-found venture capital firm Next Ventures in 2019. There she's focused on innovative technology investments across health, wellness and sports in companies like Oura ring and Outside. She serves on the boards of Outdoor Afro and USA Cycling, and most weekend you can find her riding her mountain bike on the trails where she lives in Hood River Oregon. Follow Us! Melanie Strong: @girlstrong Next Ventures: @nextventures Erica Wenger: @erica_wenger Dear Twentysomething: @deartwentysomething

    54 min
  3. Lauren Berson-Sugarman: Founder and CEO at Conceive

    APR 23

    Lauren Berson-Sugarman: Founder and CEO at Conceive

    This week, we chat with Lauren Berson-Sugarman! Lauren Berson is an executive turned entrepreneur with 20 years of experience building brands, products, and communities across a diverse set of industries. Lauren is the founder and CEO of Conceive, a digital health platform aiming to change fertility outcomes and experiences through community, evidence-based education, and coaching. Her focus on this problem and intention behind the company is deeply personal. She welcomed her daughter into the world after three challenging years filled with heartbreak, misinformation, and failed treatment. Conceive is the solution she wished she had.  Prior to Conceive, Lauren was VP, Global Head of Strategy and M&A at WW (formerly Weight Watchers), a Senior Partner at Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), and Strategic Product Partnerships lead at Google. Lauren is an active angel investor and advisor. She also serves as a board member for the JCCA, a child welfare agency in NYC. Follow Us! Lauren Berson: @LaurenBerson Conceive: @conceive Erica Wenger: @erica_wenger Dear Twentysomething: @deartwentysomething

    52 min
  4. Solo Episode: Tips for Navigating Career in Your 20s

    APR 15

    Solo Episode: Tips for Navigating Career in Your 20s

    This week, our host, Erica Wenger, shares practical and honest advice on how to navigate your career in your 20s—drawing from her own journey through college, her first job, working in VC, podcast hosting, and more! In this episode, Erica breaks down the big things that helped her build momentum early in her career—from actively absorbing information to putting herself in rooms with the right people. Whether you're in business or not, the lessons shared here are widely applicable. Erica talks about the importance of staying curious, being proactive, and finding clarity in the midst of the uncertainty that often defines your 20s. If you're figuring out what you want to do or how to make the most of where you are, this episode is filled with real, thoughtful takeaways to help you move forward with intention. Follow Us! Erica Wenger: @erica_wenger Dear Twentysomething: @deartwentysomething

    20 min
  5. Courtney Powell: COO & Managing Partner at 500 Global

    APR 8

    Courtney Powell: COO & Managing Partner at 500 Global

    This week, we chat with Courtney Powell! Courtney is COO and Managing Partner at 500 Global, tasked with helping the firm scale globally and explore new opportunities across markets. She is responsible for operations across the team to pursue 500 Global’s mission of uplifting people and economies through entrepreneurship. She is also on the advisory council of Harvard Kennedy School’s Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government supporting more effective interactions between the public and private sectors for the public good. Her ties to 500 Global go back to 2012, when she founded PublikDemand, a member of Batch 4 in 500’s Global Accelerator Program. She went on to become CEO of Agent Pronto, one of the largest real estate agent referral services in North America, which was ultimately acquired by Fidelity National Title Group. Most recently, Courtney was the Head of Corporate Development at Keller Williams, the largest real estate franchise in the world. During her tenure, she established the company’s first corporate innovation program, and worked with Keller Capital to invest and acquire tech companies in the real estate space. Courtney was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2012, received the Twilio Doer Award in 2013, and became a Google Business Leader in 2015. She attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she studied French and Corporate Communication. Follow Us! Courtney Powell: @CourtneyPowell 500GlobalVC: @500GlobalVC Erica Wenger: @erica_wenger Dear Twentysomething: @deartwentysomething

    54 min
  6. TJ Taylor: Founding General Partner at Hobart Ventures

    APR 1

    TJ Taylor: Founding General Partner at Hobart Ventures

    This week, we chat with TJ Taylor! TJ has spent over a decade as an early stage consumer operator—most recently Employee #1 at Raya and founding team member at Dispo. His areas of focus has been GTM and Growth (product, marketing, and community led). Currently, he is running consultancy and advisory company for consumer startups. Additionally, he’s serving as a Venture Scout for the consumer team at Headline (looking at early stage consumer tech companies).  Follow Us! TJ Taylor: @tjtaylr Erica Wenger: @erica_wenger Dear Twentysomething: @deartwentysomething

    55 min
  7. Solo Episode: Fundraising 101 for Early Stage Founders

    MAR 26

    Solo Episode: Fundraising 101 for Early Stage Founders

    This week, our host, Erica Wenger, shares a number of practical and unconventional tips on how to fundraise effectively as an early-stage founder! In this episode, Erica breaks down the fundraising process beyond the typical advice, offering insights on how to approach investors, craft a compelling narrative, and stand out in a crowded market. She challenges common misconceptions about fundraising and highlights creative strategies founders can use to secure capital—whether through unconventional networking, alternative funding sources, or leveraging unique market positioning. If you're an early-stage founder navigating the fundraising landscape, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you raise capital with confidence! Follow Us! Erica Wenger: @erica_wenger Dear Twentysomething: @deartwentysomething Read less

    21 min
  8. Siqi Chen: Founder of Runway

    MAR 18

    Siqi Chen: Founder of Runway

    This week, we chat with Siqi Chen! Siqi is the founder and CEO of Runway, a next generation FP&A platform that makes finance actually understandable and accessible to the entire team. As an operator and founder, he served as the CEO of Sandbox VR (a16z), VP of Product and Growth at Postmates (later acquired by Uber), CEO of Hey, Inc (Google-funded, acquired by Postmates), Head of Product at Zynga (IPO 2011) and CEO of Serious Business (funded by Lightspeed, acquired by Zynga). In addition to his operational roles, Siqi is an investor in nearly a hundred companies, including notable names like ElevenLabs, Amplitude, Pipe, and Mercury. Prior to his entrepreneurial ventures, Siqi made significant contributions at NASA JPL, where he achieved the distinction of being the sole recipient of a Congressional Space Act award while still in school. This recognition was a result of his contributions to machine vision technology on the Mars Exploration Rovers. Follow Us! Siqi Chen: @blader Runway: @runwayco Erica Wenger: @erica_wenger Dear Twentysomething: @deartwentysomething

    45 min
See All (134)

Trailer

4.9
out of 5
62 Ratings

About

The Dear Twentysomething podcast started because we wanted to create a space for ambitious and curious twentysomethings to connect with the successful changemakers they most look up to. A bit about me (your host!)... I'm Erica Wenger, a twentysomething entrepreneur and investor, and I'm so grateful for this badass community of twentysomethings who are here to get knowledge and be inspired! While the twenties can be a time full of questions and doubts, we’re here to humanize the whole thing. Sometimes you’ll hear from successful trailblazers who come on to share the highs and lows of their 20s, and other times you’ll hear words of wisdom from experts who will speak on a topic relevant for twentysomethings. And then on occasion, it’ll just be me on the mic hosting an episode where I share a recent reflection or story from my own life as I too am navigating this wild decade. Thank you for being here! Podcasts released every TUESDAY.

Information

  • Creator
    Erica Wenger
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    134
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Dear Twentysomething

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes, and get the latest updates.
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada