Overheard: Where Venture Meets Culture
30 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 1 year ago - ★★★★★ - 25 ratingsOverheard brings our provocative conversations about culture and brand from the Listen Ventures' office to your ears. Listen in for a glimpse of what we're hearing, observations we're making, and trends that are piquing our interest. If you're interested in venture capital or brand, tune in to hear how we look at investing in the brands of tomorrow.
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Episodes
27. "Everything I know about brand, I learned from hip-hop"
November 04, 2022 18:00 - 38 minutes - 26.7 MBWhat comes first? Hip-hop or culture. It’s hard to say but there is no doubt that hip-hop artists are incredible story tellers, and we at Listen owe a lot of our truth and inspiration to them. Listen in as JoJo, Brentos, and Jeff dig into their early memories with hip-hop, how artists understand brand, and why being mentioned in a hip-hop song is the ultimate sign that you or your product has officially made it. *This was recorded in February 2022. A word from our portfolio: Whether you’re...
26. "How do we take the device out of divisiveness?"
March 31, 2022 16:00 - 37 minutes - 25.7 MBPhones... They’re with us through the best of times and the worst. Although times may have been simpler 20 years ago, our devices have certainly helped us simplify our busy lives. From walking your dog to paying your bills to ordering food, one or two clicks gets you pretty far on a phone or computer. And with that, we’ve also seen how one or two clicks can cause some damage. Listen in as JoJo, Rick, and Ryan dig into the ways our devices have helped us come together and divided us, some of ...
25. "Consumption is changing"
February 24, 2022 15:00 - 35 minutes - 24.5 MBWhether we’re scrolling on social media or shopping or eating or reading the news, we are constantly consuming. It makes up who we are and it’s changing — from digital content to physical items, there has never been more to consume. Listen in as the team dives into conscious consumption, the nine lives of our items, the ongoing rent vs. buy debate, and more. A word from our portfolio: Public Goods is your one-stop shop for organic and fair trade groceries, safe and sustainable personal car...
24. “Instacart was inevitable. But when it was Webvan, it wasn’t the right time”
January 31, 2022 15:00 - 39 minutes - 27.1 MBIf we had a nickel for every time we’ve heard the phrase “timing is everything” we’d have a lot of nickels. Not only is this true for jobs, relationships, life changes… It's also a key ingredient for startups. The best part? You can’t control it. From successes like Uber and Airbnb, to not-so-successes like Webvan and Friendster, JoJo, Brentos, and Jeff dive into how consumer shifts and startup launch timing go hand in hand. A word from our portfolio: Calm is the #1 app for sleep, meditatio...
23. "My Instagram feed is showing up in my mailbox”
December 22, 2021 18:00 - 39 minutes - 27.5 MBIt’s that time of year when all of the things you want for the holidays are ✨ magically ✨ showing up in your feed every other post. And even though we’re all kinda used to our phones listening to us, it’s a little different when you start seeing these products in your snail mail. Listen in as JoJo, Ryan, and Jeff talk about how brands are leaning into direct mail and how Facebook and Apple’s privacy updates are changing up the DTC media mix. You already know, we gush over the famous Sears Ch...
22. "I'll meet you in the metaverse"
November 05, 2021 13:00 - 34 minutes - 23.6 MBMeta this, meta that. Is it just us, or has it been hard to avoid the term metaverse over the last few months? And although this isn’t a new idea, it’s happening and the screen-based internet as we know it is changing. Strap on your Oculus and listen in as JoJo, Rick, and Brentos talk about the future of how we’ll go to concerts, hang out with friends, spend QT with family, and experience our favorite brands. Disclaimer: This episode was recorded on October 13, 2021. Pre-Facebook Inc. beco...
21. “The bedroom should only be for sleep and sex”
August 19, 2021 16:00 - 40 minutes - 27.5 MBGone are the days where you just need a bed, pillow, and blanket to sleep. Now, night time routines are more complex and thoughtful than ever with sound machines, customized mattresses, special glasses, and more — creating an industry that’s worth over $80B. JoJo, Ryan, and Jeff lay it all on the bed to dive into sleep health, the brands winning in this space, and what a world would look like if sleep training continued into adulthood. A word from our portfolio: Calm is the #1 app for sleep...
20. “A f*^%ing Slack channel"
July 26, 2021 13:00 - 41 minutes - 28.4 MBICYMI… An online sneaker community, raised a $12.5M Series A to give fans a curated place to navigate the world of shoes. As sneakerheads and community nerds, this opened up the conversation of what it means for a brand to have a community and what it doesn’t. JoJo, Brentos, and Rick unpack the difference in showing up versus showing off and how brands build and sustain community. Bonus points if you’re able to guess how many times we say the word “community”. A word from our portfolio: In...
19. “Creator Houses? I'm waiting for the Creator Village.”
June 29, 2021 21:00 - 39 minutes - 27 MBYou know what they say… do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life. Whoever said that probably didn’t think that in 2021, 33% of kids between the ages 8-12 would be saying they want to be YouTubers when they grow up. So, it was time to talk about how passions are turning into careers. JoJo, Brentos, and Jeff take a trip down creator economy lane and dive into the ever changing world of content, monetization, and community. A word from our portfolio: Catch Co. is on a mission ...
18. “If you’re a pandemic baby and you’ve been in quarantine your whole life... clap your hands” with Callie Christensen and Kelly Oriard of Slumberkins
April 26, 2021 15:00 - 49 minutes - 34.3 MBPandemics and quarantine and kiddos, oh my! As the US passes the one-year mark since the COVID-19 quarantine began, we’re diving into the way this past year has impacted Generation C and their parents — the relationship with each other, new routines, emotional wellbeing, e-learning, and so much more. JoJo, Ryan, and Rick are joined by special guests, Callie Christensen and Kelly Oriard, co-founders and co-CEOs of Slumberkins to dish on the boogers and beauty of quarantine. A word from our ...
17. “The bathroom is at the center of important female conversations” with Kim Lewis of CurlMix
March 31, 2021 12:00 - 38 minutes - 26.3 MBIt’s hard to explain why the bathroom is a key player to women’s conversations, but we tried because it’s a real thing. From first times, to heart to hearts, in your own bathroom or at a bar, a lot goes down in those four walls besides just going to the bathroom. JoJo, Kimmie, and Nika are joined by special guest, Kim Lewis, CEO of CurlMix, to talk about brands that have the bathroom at the center of their strategies and how to rebrand that beloved room. You’re going to want to pull up a cha...
16. "Isn’t Clubhouse just live podcasting?"
February 25, 2021 17:00 - 48 minutes - 33.4 MBAudio has been around for a while, but say hello to the new wave. The world is just scratching the surface for new ways to listen to, engage with, and experience audio, and we’re here for it. JoJo, Brentos, and Rick sit down to talk about the audio stack, how audio can build your brand, and the new platforms to plug into. A word from our portfolio: Interior Define makes the furniture customizing and shopping experience enjoyable. Get the piece of your dreams on your own terms at interiord...
16. "Isn’t Clubhouse just live podcasting?"
February 25, 2021 17:00 - 48 minutes - 33.4 MBAudio has been around for a while, but say hello to the new wave. The world is just scratching the surface for new ways to listen to, engage with, and experience audio, and we’re here for it. JoJo, Brentos, and Rick sit down to talk about the audio stack, how audio can build your brand, and the new platforms to plug into. A word from our portfolio: Interior Define makes the furniture customizing and shopping experience enjoyable. Get the piece of your dreams on your own terms at interiord...
15. "I'm giving up resolutions this year" with Mike Apostal of Factor
January 28, 2021 17:00 - 54 minutes - 37.2 MBIt’s January 28th aka nine days after January 19th aka the day most people are likely to give up on their New Year's Resolution. But in case you missed it, resolutions are out and wellbeing is in. JoJo, Jeff, and Ryan are joined by special guest, Mike Apostal, CEO of Factor, to talk about hitting the reset button, what brands can do to lean in, category shifts, and some of our biggest flops from past new year resolutions. A word from our portfolio: Factor delivers healthy meals to your do...
14. "How do I prime this election?"
November 30, 2020 18:00 - 40 minutes - 27.7 MBLet’s be honest... if we can’t get something delivered in two days with free shipping, is it really worth buying? We all know the answer to that. In a time of next-day delivery and being able to track it at every stage, we’ve grown quite impatient. Add in a presidential election during a global pandemic and tensions are at an all time high. Jo, Jeff, and Brentos break down the instant delivery, rapid results, and instant gratification world we live in. Listen in as we talk about the Amazon e...
13. "Don't make me laugh or I'll pee"
October 27, 2020 17:00 - 46 minutes - 32.3 MBAll jokes aside (well, maybe not all jokes), it was about time to talk about the fourth trimester. Even though it’s become more talked about over the last year, it’s still an under-discussed and under-planned part of the prenatal and postnatal journey. On this real and hilarious episode, we brought in two special guests: Rick and Ryan’s better halves — Nilam and Steph — to chat with Jo about all of their different postpartum experiences. Grab a seat (and maybe a diaper) as we talk about thin...
12. "Finding out your recycling is mixed with trash is like finding out Santa isn’t real" with Jenna Walker of Artifact Uprising and Material Change
September 14, 2020 12:00 - 51 minutes - 35.2 MBReduce, reuse, recycle, and rethink. Four words that bring back memories of first learning about recycling. We sat down with Jenna Walker, former co-founder of Artifact Uprising and currently Material Change, to dig into environmental sustainability. Listen in as the team talks about the highs and lows of our own sustainability journeys and how brands are making changes for the better. Host: Joelle Cosmas Guests: Jenna Walker, Brentos Fernandez & Rick Desai \\ Ad \\ Public Goods is comm...
11. “The true sign of adulthood is having a separate face towel”
July 29, 2020 12:00 - 42 minutes - 28.9 MBWhat’s harder to resist? Touching a pimple or picking up your phone when it buzzes. The conversation around acne is moving away from hiding and moving toward highlighting. So, there are a lot of opportunities for brands, and consumers, to own it. Listen in as Jo sits down with Ryan and Rick to share their hate-hate relationship with acne and our thoughts on the changing world of skincare. Host: Joelle Cosmas Guests: Ryan Sievert & Rick Desai \\ Ad \\ Want to hear about the warmest outerw...
10. “It’s easy to make it pretty, harder to make it matter”
June 30, 2020 15:00 - 40 minutes - 27.8 MBDaily reminder: In a world full of pretty Instagram grids, be a brand that has soul. Good design is table stakes these days, which is why we believe a company’s brand is so much more than aesthetically-pleasing visuals. Listen in as the Brand Dream Team (aka Jo, Jeff, and Brentos) talk through all things brand, not to be confused with branding. Host: Joelle Cosmas Guests: Brentos Fernandez and Jeff Cantalupo \\ Ad \\ Imagine a futuristic wonderland designed just for kids. A world where ki...
9. "I just followed my vibrator on Instagram" with Alexandra Fine of Dame
May 14, 2020 17:00 - 54 minutes - 37.4 MBDo you feel it? It’s a new wave of self-love. As the discussion and acceptance around sexual wellness evolves, we take on the taboo with special guest, Alexandra Fine, sexologist and CEO of Dame Products. Listen in as Al, Jo, Ryan, and Rick dive into the sexual wellness industry and talk pros, cons, and everything in-between. Host: Joelle Cosmas Guests: Alexandra Fine, Ryan Sievert, and Rick Desai \\ Ad \\ We all know a night out with friends after the exciting job promotion, marri...
8. "We should call it physical distancing, not social distancing"
April 22, 2020 12:00 - 48 minutes - 33.1 MBCan you remember a time before you heard the phrase "social distancing"? As the world adjusts to COVID-19, it's been amazing to see just how social we've been and how we're finding new ways to connect with others. Listen in as Jo, Brentos, and Jeff unpack how this time has changed the way we connect, which brands have a meaningful part in the conversation and some of our predictions for when we'll be able to touch each other again. Host: Joelle Cosmas Guests: Brentos Fernandez and Jeff Can...
7. "I heard Impossible Burgers were sold out at Burger King"
February 20, 2020 22:00 - 40 minutes - 27.8 MBMeatless Monday is no longer satisfying the conscious eater's craving for sustainable food. As plant-based alternatives fill our stomachs, our menus, and our grocery aisles, startups like Beyond Meat and Impossible Burger face off against legacy food conglomerates like Tyson and Smithfield. Listen in as Jo sits down to a plant-based lunch with Brentos and Jeff to explore the sustainable food movement, one Impossible Whopper at a time. Host: Joelle Cosmas Guests: Brentos Fernandez and Jeff C...
6. "I'm less curious when I'm sober"
January 21, 2020 15:00 - 48 minutes - 33.4 MBDry January or Dry 2020? With the Non-Alcoholic trend sweeping through, there are more and more people opting for an alternative to the social pastime. But what does "being sober" even mean? Listen in as the squad talks about companies that are showing up in the space and what they will need to do to win as a brand, the pressures that come with claiming to be sober and the new generation of non-drinkers. Just in time to wrap up your month of resolutions. Host: Joelle Cosmas Guests: Rick Des...
5. “It's the law but no one wears them”
December 02, 2019 23:00 - 35 minutes - 24.5 MBScooters, bikes, and hoverboards - OH MY! There are endless options to get around but that means there are even more reasons we need to be safe in this new world of individual mobility. In most cities and urban areas, it's never been easier to walk out your door and get to where you need to be - what are you doing to keep yourself safe? Is safety brandable or does that take away from the seriousness? There are numerous reasons to invest in products that saves lives, but what happens when pro...
4. “I really can’t be late to my Peloton class”
July 31, 2019 20:00 - 34 minutes - 23.7 MBIt's official: we are living in the era of digital fitness. Long gone are the days of aimless jaunts to the gym, lurking around treadmills, clueless about how to use the weight machine. With access to apps and expert trainers, an increasing number for people are swiping into fitness apps that guide them through endless workout options. Check out Factor for performance driven, healthy meals that help you thrive at any level. Each meal is designed by dietitians and created by world class che...
3. “I’m so excited I met with my therapist today”
July 31, 2019 15:00 - 37 minutes - 25.6 MBWhen stigma surrounds a topic or category, there are a tension that exists to help build brand that can make a difference. Listen saw this in 2012 around mental health. A topic, often brushed under the rug, began to see a movement in culture. An opportunity emerged for a brand to take a fresh perspective, bring people and culture into the conversation, remove the stigma and provide solutions. The brand was Calm, a nascent idea in 2012 that recently became the firstMental Health Unicorn. Ment...
3. “I’m so excited I met with my therapist today”
July 31, 2019 15:00 - 37 minutes - 25.6 MBWhen stigma surrounds a topic or category, there are a tension that exists to help build brand that can make a difference. Listen saw this in 2012 around mental health. A topic, often brushed under the rug, began to see a movement in culture. An opportunity emerged for a brand to take a fresh perspective, bring people and culture into the conversation, remove the stigma and provide solutions. The brand was Calm, a nascent idea in 2012 that recently became the firstMental Health Unicorn. Ment...
2. “Would you rather be a bartender or a budtender?”
July 31, 2019 15:00 - 32 minutes - 22.6 MBOver the past couple years, Cannabis has exponentially grown to one of the hottest new markets. In 2018, the US passed the Farm Bill. CBD products are no being sold in Walgreens; Luxury retailer Barney’s launched the High End, and Illinois was most recently the 11th state to legalize recreational cannabis. With a rapidly declining stigma around cannabis, Listen saw an opportunity to invest in the new market and steer the conversation with a trusted brand voice in this emerging category. Ch...
2. “Would you rather be a bartender or a budtender?”
July 31, 2019 15:00 - 32 minutes - 22.6 MBOver the past couple years, Cannabis has exponentially grown to one of the hottest new markets. In 2018, the US passed the Farm Bill. CBD products are no being sold in Walgreens; Luxury retailer Barney’s launched the High End, and Illinois was most recently the 11th state to legalize recreational cannabis. With a rapidly declining stigma around cannabis, Listen saw an opportunity to invest in the new market and steer the conversation with a trusted brand voice in this emerging category. Ch...
1. "Money talks, ours Listens"
July 30, 2019 18:00 - 14 minutes - 9.78 MBAt Listen, we back and build the brands of tomorrow. In order to make investments in the visionary entrepreneurs of tomorrow, we are constantly talking to each other and listening. We get that consumers look for brands that reflect their values, inspire commerce, and invite participation. Take a listen at how and why we partner with entrepreneurs to unlock the most meaningful expression of their brand and work to answer the top of mind question at HQ - What if brands listened more?