Glam & Grow - Beauty Business Podcast

Takara Sewitt | Wavebreak
  • 4.9 (91)
  • Fashion & Beauty
  • Updated Weekly

On the Glam & Grow Podcast, your host, Takara Sewitt interviews leaders at the top Beauty, Skincare, Fashion, and Lifestyle brands. She dives into their stories, lessons learned, and perspectives on the changing industry. Subscribe and join us each week as we Glam & Grow.

  1. 4d ago

    Mario Badescu: Where Legacy Meets What’s Next with President Joseph Cabasso

    Mario Badescu began in 1967 when Romanian-born chemist and aesthetician Mario Badescu opened a small facial studio in his New York City apartment, creating simple, effective skincare formulas tailored to individual skin types. What started as a personal approach to skincare grew into a cult New York beauty brand, built around the belief that good skincare should be accessible, uncomplicated, and effective. In 1984, the Cabasso family acquired the business and has kept it privately owned and family-run ever since, preserving the brand’s original philosophy while expanding it into a global skincare name. Today, Mario Badescu products are sold around the world, while the brand continues to operate its iconic New York salon and formulate products in-house. Joseph Cabasso, the company’s president and a member of the family that has owned the brand for more than 40 years, has helped lead its evolution into a modern, globally recognized skincare business. Under Joseph’s leadership, the brand has focused on reaching new generations of consumers without losing the accessibility, straightforward formulas, and New York heritage that made Mario Badescu famous. His approach has been to grow the business while staying true to what has always made the brand different: effective skincare, approachable prices, and a strong sense of authenticity. In this episode, Joseph also discusses: The brand still being family owned almost 60 years later How a 1960s New York facial studio became a global business in 74+ countries Growing from a tiny apartment operation to a huge physical operation  Martha Stewart has been a customer for more than 40 years The Drying Lotion became a cult product long before TikTok existed Why they're obsessed with keeping the products affordable, even during inflation We hope you enjoy this episode and gain valuable insights into Joseph's journey and the growth of Mario Badescu. Don't forget to subscribe to the Glam & Grow podcast for more in-depth conversations with the most incredible brands, founders, and more. Be sure to check out Mario Badescu at www.mariobadescu.com and on Instagram at @mariobadescu Rated #1 Best Beauty Business Podcast on FeedPost This episode is brought to you by Wavebreak Leading direct-to-consumer brands hire Wavebreak to turn email marketing into a top revenue driver. Most eCommerce brands don’t email right... and it costs them. At Wavebreak, our eCommerce email marketing agency helps qualified brands recapture 7+ figures of lost revenue each year. From abandoned cart emails to Black Friday campaigns, our best-in-class team manage the entire process: strategy, design, copywriting, coding, and testing. All aimed at driving growth, profit, brand recognition, and most importantly, ROI. Curious if Wavebreak is right for you? Reach out at Wavebreak.co

  2. Aug 3

    How Vacation Made Sunscreen Cool Again With Chief Medical Advisor, Dr. Elizabeth Hale

    Vacation has completely redefined what modern sun care can look and feel like, transforming sunscreen from a daily obligation into a product people genuinely look forward to using. The brand has built a cult following by pairing high-performance SPF formulations with nostalgic branding, elevated sensorial experiences, and a playful approach that has made daily sunscreen application more enjoyable. Dr. Elizabeth Hale serves as Chief Medical Advisor to Vacation, helping guide the brand's science-backed approach to sun protection and product development. Beyond her work with Vacation, Dr. Hale is a board-certified dermatologist, Clinical Associate Professor of Dermatology at NYU Langone Medical Center, and Senior Vice President of The Skin Cancer Foundation. Her expertise has helped reinforce Vacation's commitment to creating effective SPF products that consumers are excited to incorporate into their daily routines. Together, Vacation's innovative brand vision and Dr. Hale's medical leadership have helped make daily sun protection feel more approachable, engaging, and relevant than ever. In this episode, Dr. Elizabeth Hale also discusses: The deadly tanning trend making a terrifying comeback Why you need sunscreen even on cloudy days The one sunscreen habit that can help protect your skin Why dermatologists say skin checks are the best anti-aging habit How Vacation's Classic Whip SPF 50 became a viral sensation Why it's never too late to protect your skin from skin cancer We hope you enjoy this episode and gain valuable insights into Dr. Elizabeth Hale's journey and the growth of Vacation. Don't forget to subscribe to the Glam & Grow podcast for more in-depth conversations with the most incredible brands, founders, and more. Be sure to check out Vacation at www.vacation.inc and on Instagram at @vacationinc Rated #1 Best Beauty Business Podcast on FeedPost This episode is brought to you by Wavebreak Leading direct-to-consumer brands hire Wavebreak to turn email marketing into a top revenue driver. Most eCommerce brands don’t email right... and it costs them. At Wavebreak, our eCommerce email marketing agency helps qualified brands recapture 7+ figures of lost revenue each year. From abandoned cart emails to Black Friday campaigns, our best-in-class team manage the entire process: strategy, design, copywriting, coding, and testing. All aimed at driving growth, profit, brand recognition, and most importantly, ROI. Curious if Wavebreak is right for you? Reach out at Wavebreak.co

  3. Jul 20

    The Rise of Tubby Todd: How Authenticity and Innovation Built a Baby Care Powerhouse With Co-Founder Andrea Faulkner Williams

    Tubby Todd was founded in 2014 by Andrea Faulkner Williams and her husband, Brian Todd, after their family struggled with sensitive skin, dryness, and eczema. Frustrated by the lack of clean, effective products they felt comfortable using on their four children, Andrea turned her search into a mission to create gentle skincare solutions that truly worked for families. From that first product, Tubby Todd has grown into a full line of plant-based body care essentials trusted by families dealing with concerns like eczema, baby acne, drool rash, and dry skin. Built through authentic storytelling and a strong community of “TT Mamas,” Tubby Todd continues to grow without celebrity investors or massive advertising budgets, instead relying on the trust of its customers. Today, the brand serves more than 2 million families and continues to expand its reach, becoming one of the leading names in baby skincare while staying rooted in Andrea’s original mission: creating safe, effective products she would use on her own children. In this episode, Andrea also discusses: Starting Tubby Todd With Her Husband and the Story Behind the Name How Her Child’s Eczema Inspired Their First Formula The Early Days of Influencer Marketing and Mommy Bloggers Camp Tubby Todd and Giving Back to Families Becoming the #1 Baby Skincare Brand at Target Why Human Connection Still Matters in Customer Service Lessons From Scaling a Community-First Brand We hope you enjoy this episode and gain valuable insights into Andrea's journey and the growth of Tubby Todd. Don't forget to subscribe to the Glam & Grow podcast for more in-depth conversations with the most incredible brands, founders, and more. Be sure to check out Tubby Todd at www.tubbytodd.com and on Instagram at @tubbytodd Rated #1 Best Beauty Business Podcast on FeedPost This episode is brought to you by Wavebreak Leading direct-to-consumer brands hire Wavebreak to turn email marketing into a top revenue driver. Most eCommerce brands don’t email right... and it costs them. At Wavebreak, our eCommerce email marketing agency helps qualified brands recapture 7+ figures of lost revenue each year. From abandoned cart emails to Black Friday campaigns, our best-in-class team manage the entire process: strategy, design, copywriting, coding, and testing. All aimed at driving growth, profit, brand recognition, and most importantly, ROI. Curious if Wavebreak is right for you? Reach out at Wavebreak.co

  4. Jul 6

    From Wall Street to Wellness: The Story Behind Apothékary With Founder, Shizu Okusa

    Apothékary is a modern wellness company rooted in Japanese herbal tradition and designed to replace synthetic quick fixes with targeted, plant-based remedies. Founded by Wall Street alum-turned-entrepreneur Shizu Okusa, the brand was born from a personal shift toward balance, ancestral wisdom, and root-cause healing. Apothékary bridges 5,000 years of Japanese herbal medicine with contemporary bioavailability science to create clean, clinically informed tinctures. Rather than one-off supplements, its formulas are designed as a 24-hour ritual system supporting the body from morning to night with intentional, functional blends. The brand sits at the intersection of ritual and results, turning daily wellness into a consistent, structured practice rather than a reactive habit. What sets Apothékary apart is its commitment to both heritage and evidence, pairing centuries of traditional use with emerging clinical research and in-house studies. The result is a category-defining approach to herbal wellness that feels both deeply ancestral and distinctly modern. In this episode, Shizu also discusses: Japanese Longevity Secrets Why Liquid Tinctures Beat Pills With 98% Absorption How TikTok Shop and 15,000 Affiliates Generate $1M a Month Unlock Better Sleep by Taking Supplements on an Empty Stomach The Two-Times Rule for Raising Capital Why They Sell One BlueBurn Every 90 Seconds We hope you enjoy this episode and gain valuable insights into Shizu's journey and the growth of Apothekary. Don't forget to subscribe to the Glam & Grow podcast for more in-depth conversations with the most incredible brands, founders, and more. Be sure to check out Apothekary at www.apothekary.com and on Instagram at @apothekary Rated #1 Best Beauty Business Podcast on FeedPost This episode is brought to you by Wavebreak Leading direct-to-consumer brands hire Wavebreak to turn email marketing into a top revenue driver. Most eCommerce brands don’t email right... and it costs them. At Wavebreak, our eCommerce email marketing agency helps qualified brands recapture 7+ figures of lost revenue each year.From abandoned cart emails to Black Friday campaigns, our best-in-class team manage the entire process: strategy, design, copywriting, coding, and testing. All aimed at driving growth, profit, brand recognition, and most importantly, ROI. Curious if Wavebreak is right for you? Reach out at Wavebreak.co

  5. Jun 22

    Auro Wellness: Pioneering Cellular Health Through Topical Glutathione and Advanced Skincare Science With Dr. Nayan Patel

    Dr. Nayan Patel is the founder of Auro Wellness, a science-driven health and skincare brand focused on advancing wellness through innovative topical delivery technologies. A pharmacist for more than 30 years and an adjunct faculty member at the University of Southern California School of Pharmacy, Dr. Patel is internationally recognized for his expertise in glutathione, ingredient science, and healthy aging. After 14 years of research and development, Auro Wellness launched its patented sub-nano absorption technology, designed to improve the delivery and effectiveness of active ingredients. The brand's breakthrough product, Glutaryl™, is the first topical glutathione formula developed to provide systemic wellness benefits through skin absorption. Auro has since expanded into skincare, leveraging its patented technology to deliver antioxidants and peptides deeper into the skin for clinically proven results. Its Copper Tri-Peptide Serum reflects the growing shift toward science-backed skincare focused on repair, resilience, and skin longevity. Through Auro Wellness, Dr. Patel continues to bridge pharmaceutical science and beauty innovation to help consumers achieve healthier aging from the inside out. In this episode, Dr. Patel also discusses: Why copper peptides are emerging as a hero ingredient in modern skincare Why longevity should be the goal—not just treating symptoms with drugs The science behind why the aging process begins as early as age 25 What 14 years of research revealed about glutathione and cellular health The hidden toxins in your daily routine that may be accelerating aging How oxidative stress impacts energy, inflammation, and long-term health The future of preventative wellness and healthy aging from the inside out We hope you enjoy this episode and gain valuable insights into Dr. Patel's journey and the growth of Auro Wellness. Don't forget to subscribe to the Glam & Grow podcast for more in-depth conversations with the most incredible brands, founders, and more. Be sure to check out Auro Wellness at www.aurowellness.com and on Instagram at @aurowellness Rated #1 Best Beauty Business Podcast on FeedPost This episode is brought to you by Wavebreak Leading direct-to-consumer brands hire Wavebreak to turn email marketing into a top revenue driver. Most eCommerce brands don’t email right... and it costs them. At Wavebreak, our eCommerce email marketing agency helps qualified brands recapture 7+ figures of lost revenue each year. From abandoned cart emails to Black Friday campaigns, our best-in-class team manage the entire process: strategy, design, copywriting, coding, and testing. All aimed at driving growth, profit, brand recognition, and most importantly, ROI. Curious if Wavebreak is right for you? Reach out at Wavebreak.co

  6. Jun 8

    How The Original Southside Is Raising the Bar for Ready-to-Drink Cocktails With Founder Meredith Mills-Merritt

    Founded by entrepreneur Meredith Mills-Merritt, The Original Southside is a premium ready-to-drink cocktail brand bringing a fresh, elevated approach to the rapidly growing RTD category. Inspired by a cherished family recipe created by her mother, Meredith transformed the classic Southside cocktail—a refreshing blend of gin, lemon, and mint—into a bar-quality canned beverage made with organic ingredients and a commitment to transparency. Drawing on her background in prestige beauty and product innovation, she applies a product-first philosophy to every aspect of the brand, from ingredient sourcing and formulation to packaging and design. The result is a cocktail that prioritizes quality, simplicity, and a clean ingredient profile without compromising on taste. Beyond building the brand, Meredith is also a co-founder of the Clean Alcohol Collective, an initiative advocating for greater ingredient transparency across the alcohol industry. Through The Original Southside, she is helping redefine what consumers can expect from ready-to-drink cocktails while challenging industry norms around formulation and disclosure. In this episode, Meredit also discusses: How a family canned cocktail recipe became a viral brand Why alcohol should have ingredient labels so consumers know what they're drinking How the beauty industry's "clean" movement influenced beverage innovation Ditching dull drinks in favor of bold, modern branding The rise of health-conscious consumers and how they're reshaping the alcohol market The challenges of building a small alcohol brand in a distribution-controlled industry Debunking common myths about gin, tequila, and vodka being "healthier" choices Why indulgence and moderation can coexist in today's wellness culture We hope you enjoy this episode and gain valuable insights into Meredit's journey and the growth of The Original Southside. Don't forget to subscribe to the Glam & Grow podcast for more in-depth conversations with the most incredible brands, founders, and more. Be sure to check out The Original Southside at www.drinksouthsides.com and on Instagram at @drinksouthsides Rated #1 Best Beauty Business Podcast on FeedPost This episode is brought to you by Wavebreak Leading direct-to-consumer brands hire Wavebreak to turn email marketing into a top revenue driver. Most eCommerce brands don’t email right... and it costs them. At Wavebreak, our eCommerce email marketing agency helps qualified brands recapture 7+ figures of lost revenue each year. From abandoned cart emails to Black Friday campaigns, our best-in-class team manage the entire process: strategy, design, copywriting, coding, and testing. All aimed at driving growth, profit, brand recognition, and most importantly, ROI. Curious if Wavebreak is right for you? Reach out at Wavebreak.co

  7. May 11

    Indie Lee: The Diagnosis That Built a Clean Beauty Empire

    Indie Lee is a clean beauty skincare brand founded by Indie Lee in 2010, built around the idea of combining high-performance formulas with plant-derived, non-toxic ingredients. The brand was born out of Lee’s personal health crisis—she was diagnosed with a life-threatening brain tumor in 2008, which doctors believed could be environmentally linked, prompting her to rethink everything she was putting on her skin. After undergoing successful surgery, she made it her mission to create safer, transparent skincare and to educate consumers on ingredient awareness. What started as formulations she created in her own kitchen quickly evolved into a full line of products known for being clean, cruelty-free, and rooted in both nature and science. The brand became an early player in the clean beauty movement, emphasizing sustainability, ethical sourcing, and avoiding thousands of potentially harmful ingredients. Today, Indie Lee is widely distributed across major retailers and has continued to grow, including recent expansions aimed at making clean beauty more accessible to a broader audience. In this episode, Indie also discusses: Her brain tumor diagnosis that forced a complete life reset Selling everything to fund her vision and ultimately building a legacy brand Pioneering the clean beauty movement with the world’s finest, natural ingredients Partnering with retailers such as Bluemercury, Credo, Ulta, Amazon, Whole Foods Expansion into accessibility with Indie Lee Botanicals (priced under $25) Her simple, effective 5-step skincare routine that is easy and affordable Risk, resilience, and building something that actually matters We hope you enjoy this episode and gain valuable insights into Indie's journey and the growth of Indie Lee. Don't forget to subscribe to the Glam & Grow podcast for more in-depth conversations with the most incredible brands, founders, and more. Be sure to check out Indie Lee at www.indielee.com and on Instagram at @indie_lee Rated #1 Best Beauty Business Podcast on FeedPost This episode is brought to you by Wavebreak Leading direct-to-consumer brands hire Wavebreak to turn email marketing into a top revenue driver. Most eCommerce brands don’t email right... and it costs them. At Wavebreak, our eCommerce email marketing agency helps qualified brands recapture 7+ figures of lost revenue each year. From abandoned cart emails to Black Friday campaigns, our best-in-class team manage the entire process: strategy, design, copywriting, coding, and testing. All aimed at driving growth, profit, brand recognition, and most importantly, ROI. Curious if Wavebreak is right for you? Reach out at Wavebreak.co

  8. Apr 13

    Designing the Modern Woman: The Ronny Kobo Brand Story

    Ronny Kobo is the founder and creative force behind her namesake label, building the brand from a clear personal vision of modern, confident femininity. She has shaped it into a globally recognized fashion house that reflects her instinct for what women actually want to wear–pieces that feel powerful, sexy, and effortless at the same time. Ronny Kobo is defined by its bold silhouettes, body-skimming fits, and statement prints that are designed to stand out without feeling overworked. Ronny Kobo herself brings a strong editorial eye to every collection, blending European polish with a New York sensibility that keeps the brand both elevated and wearable. Over time, she has built a loyal community of women who turn to the brand for occasion dressing that still feels grounded in real life. The result is a label that consistently sits at the intersection of trend-aware and timeless, with a distinct point of view that doesn’t chase attention, it commands it. In this episode, Ronny also discusses: How Hong Kong women inspired her fashion empire Why business partnerships feel like a marriage (and what makes them work) Navigating real challenges and building resilience How smaller budgets drive sharper, more authentic marketing Staying independent and protecting creative freedom The return of 2000s fashion Why Instagram is your digital tattoo—post with intention We hope you enjoy this episode and gain valuable insights into Ronny's journey and the growth of Ronny Kobo. Don't forget to subscribe to the Glam & Grow podcast for more in-depth conversations with the most incredible brands, founders, and more. Be sure to check out Ronny Kobo at www.ronnykobo.com and on Instagram at @ronnykobo Rated #1 Best Beauty Business Podcast on FeedPost This episode is brought to you by Wavebreak Leading direct-to-consumer brands hire Wavebreak to turn email marketing into a top revenue driver. Most eCommerce brands don’t email right... and it costs them. At Wavebreak, our eCommerce email marketing agency helps qualified brands recapture 7+ figures of lost revenue each year. From abandoned cart emails to Black Friday campaigns, our best-in-class team manage the entire process: strategy, design, copywriting, coding, and testing. All aimed at driving growth, profit, brand recognition, and most importantly, ROI. Curious if Wavebreak is right for you? Reach out at Wavebreak.co

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About

On the Glam & Grow Podcast, your host, Takara Sewitt interviews leaders at the top Beauty, Skincare, Fashion, and Lifestyle brands. She dives into their stories, lessons learned, and perspectives on the changing industry. Subscribe and join us each week as we Glam & Grow.

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