Raising the Bar with Alli and Adrian
142 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 2 years ago - ★★★★ - 228 ratingsThe stuff you wished entrepreneurs really talked about. Drybar founder Alli Webb joins forces with her executive coach (and boyfriend) Adrian Koehler to pull back the curtain on the entrepreneurial life—the good, the bad, and the messy. Together, they tackle the conversations people in leadership rarely have in public, interviewing other entrepreneurs and founders along the way to find out what it takes to overcome the obstacles that make most people quit. This is a study on perseverance. So, whether you're just starting out or weighed down by the stress of success, tune in. You might not be as alone as you think.
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Episodes
S2 Ep. 26 Grow Marketing: Two Ex-Rivals Make Peace & PR
September 27, 2019 07:00 - 43 minutes - 40.6 MBFor years, Cassie Hughes and Gabrey Means were rivals in the cutthroat world of corporate publicity campaigns, trying to outdo each other with store launches, press events, and stunts, all before experiential marketing was barely a standard marketing practice. The competition ended one day over a bottle of wine, as Cassie and Gabrey realized they could build the agency they longed for but never found. Since starting Grow in 2001, Gabrey and Cassie have built Grow from a two-person consulta...
S2 Ep. 25 Sweet Laurel Bakery: Why Instagram Came First For This Bakeshop
September 20, 2019 07:00 - 48 minutes - 45 MBAs a lifelong amateur baker, Laurel Gallucci had to remove gluten, dairy, and refined sugar from her diet when she was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease Hashimoto's. She had to re-learn how to eat, and applied this newfound knowledge to her love of baking. Eventually, Laurel teamed up with her partner Claire Thomas to create Sweet Laurel Bakery, an Instagram and marketing phenomenon that has lead to two cookbooks and brick-and-mortar bakeshop in the Palisades Village. Tune in to hear Lau...
S2 Ep. 24 Inner Glow Circle: Money-Making Life Coaching
September 13, 2019 05:00 - 1 hour - 73.3 MBDeath, disease, and...spray tanning? All of these things led Katie DePaola to leave her 9-to-5 job and grow her company Inner Glow Circle into a globally recognized training program for coaches and entrepreneurs. Katie's journey to entrepreneurial independence took many twists and turns since IGC's founding in 2015, but she's turned her greatest challenges into her greatest opportunities and says her business is what saved her life. Michael and Alli hear Katie's story and find out how Inner ...
S2 Ep. 23 Jen Gotch: Ban.do, Mental Health, Authenticity
September 06, 2019 05:00 - 45 minutes - 42.6 MBDon't ask Jen Gotch how to describe her 11-year-old business Ban.do. What began as a hair accessories company has evolved into a lifestyle brand that can be found at more than 3,000 department stores and boutiques around the world and count Starbucks and Taylor Swift as collaborators. Jen has evolved, too. As a co-founder, chief creative officer, mental health advocate, and now, author, Jen joined her old pals Michael and Alli in front of a Ban.do-clad live audience at the Grove to get real ...
S2 Ep. 22 Zookies Cookies: A Shark Tank Success Story
August 30, 2019 05:30 - 54 minutes - 51 MBWhen Justin Miller and Tom Simon pitched their bake-at-home cookie mix on Shark Tank, they may have tricked Alli into eating their dog treats (made from human-grade ingredients) but that didn't stop a bidding war. Alli beat out fellow Shark Kevin O'Leary—offering them $50,000 for 30% of the company—and committed to helping the duo with branding, marketing, and scaling. Justin and Tom caught up with their investors to relay what's happened since Shark Tank, how Alli and Michael come into play...
S2 Ep. 21 Year & Day: Direct-To-Consumer Tableware
August 23, 2019 06:00 - 54 minutes - 50.7 MBYear & Day is changing the way people shop for tableware. With its modern, minimalist dishes, flatware, and glassware at attainable prices, the year-old, direct-to-consumer startup has already made fans out of Eva Chen and Mandy Moore. Founder and CEO Kathryn Duryea, a Stanford MBA who previously worked in brand management at Tiffany & Co., wants to do for tableware what Warby Parker has done for eyewear or Parachute Home has done for bedding: offer a defined aesthetic at reasonable prices. ...
S2 Ep. 20 Toni Ko: Banking On Beauty With NYX Cosmetics
August 16, 2019 05:30 - 50 minutes - 46.7 MBToni Ko was just 25 when she founded the affordable beauty brand NYX Cosmetics. With $250,000 in seed money from her parents, the Korean-born entrepreneur started out small, with makeup pencils, but made $2 million in sales her first year. After selling the company in 2014 to L'Oreal for reportedly $500 million, Toni knew retirement wasn't what came next. She sat down with Alli and Michael to swap entrepreneurial war stories and share how she revived her sense of self post-acquisition with a...
S2 Ep. 19 Jamie Kern Lima: How To Negotiate a $1.2 Billion Aquisition
August 09, 2019 04:30 - 1 hour - 58 MBIt Cosmetics has been a true disruptor in the cosmetics industry since its launch in 2008. After years of hustling on QVC and landing shelf space in Sephora and Ulta, founder Jamie Kern Lima sold her problem-solving makeup line of 300 products to L'Oreal for a reported $1.2 billion in 2016 and stayed on as CEO, making her the first female CEO in L'Oreal's 108-year-history. Jamie sat down with Michael and Alli to reveal how she started testing makeup to help cover up her rosacea, investing i...
S2 Ep. 18 Rachel Pally: A Biz For All Body Types
August 02, 2019 13:11 - 47 minutes - 44.7 MBRachel Pally's Cali-cool maxi dresses have been photographed on everyone from SJP and Beyoncé to Jennifer Aniston and Katy Perry, but it was a stint at a university costume department and a chance encounter in DTLA's Chinatown that truly changed everything for her. Since founding the eponymous clothing line in 2002, Rachel's made it her mission to make flattering clothing for women of all sizes, including plus-size and maternity-wear. The native Angeleno continues to support her local econom...
S2 Ep. 17 Sophia Rossi: How To Go From Assistant to CEO
July 26, 2019 06:00 - 53 minutes - 49.3 MBSophia Rossi has been a babysitter, an assistant, a TV producer, a founder, a CEO, and now...city councilwoman? But that's for the future. As a former producer on MTV's The Hills and The City, Sophia went on to co-found HelloGiggles (alongside BFFs Zooey Deschanel and Molly McAleer) and sell the media company to Time Inc. in 2016. Today, the 36-year-old entrepreneur keeps good company among L.A.'s glitterati and is focusing on her spice company called Hi Note. She met up with Alli and Mich...
S2 Ep. 16 Clare V.: The LA Based Brand With Global Appeal
July 19, 2019 06:30 - 50 minutes - 46.8 MBThe made-in-LA success of Clare Vivier's handbags and accessories company is going international. Since starting Clare V. in 2008, Clare has translated buzz into business growth and cornered the accessories market through online, wholesale, and brick-and-mortar retail (she just opened her 9th store). With a signature brand of Cali-Parisian chic and affordable luxury, Clare has ventured beyond handbags into clothing, footwear, jewelry, and beauty. Today, she employs 70 people and continues to...
S2 Ep. 15 Shower Toga: Alli Webb and Mark Cuban's Big Bet
July 12, 2019 06:00 - 1 hour - 60.6 MBWhen "Shark Tank" investors Alli Webb and Mark Cuban made an $80,000 gamble on national television, they were not only buying into Shower Toga but also its feisty and fearless founder, Kressa Peterson. Shower Toga—a wearable, water-resistant garment that allows users to strip and wash off while keeping their modesty in check—is touted as a saving grace after beach days, obstacle races, music festivals, and even emergency events and elderly assistance. Kressa visited Alli and Michael to dish ...
S2 Ep. 14 Sara Happ: The Lip Expert
July 05, 2019 06:00 - 42 minutes - 39.9 MBThe original Lip Scrub—loved by early supporters Gwyneth Paltrow and Reese Witherspoon—was never meant to kickstart Sara Happ's beauty career. She just whipped up a product in her kitchen one cold winter to combat chapped lips. With her scrub, she had stumbled into a blank space in the beauty industry—lip scrubs and lip care—and said goodbye to her job at ESPN to become a full-blown entrepreneur. Sara talks with her longtime friends Alli and Michael about gaining a cult following and becomin...
S2 Ep. 13 U-Nify: Building and Branding a Mental Health Gym
June 28, 2019 13:03 - 54 minutes - 50.7 MBA fitness studio, but for your mental health. This is the idea behind U-Nify, an early-stage company offering affordable workshops led by therapists, life coaches, spiritual leaders, and wellness experts. U-Nify wants to lower the barrier of entry and make mental health a part of the everyday wellness routine, just like going to the gym or meditating. Alli and Michael sat down with U-Nify founders Sandra Kusnnir and Kevin Lehtinen to offer the budding entrepreneurs advice on honing their ele...
S2 Ep. 12 Lunya: Elevating Luxury Sleepwear with Founder Ashley Merrill
June 21, 2019 06:30 - 44 minutes - 41.3 MBAshley Merrill launched Lunya in 2014 with a conviction that women's sleepwear was overdue for a fresh, modern perspective. As an MBA student wearing her husband's old clothes like pajamas, Ashley realized that although people will spend one-third of their lives in bed, sleepwear still tended to be the most undervalued part of a wardrobe. So, she set out to create a new brand of luxury PJs that were both stylish and functional. Today, Lunya (a play on "lugna," the Swedish word for relaxation...
S2 Ep. 11 Karen Fairchild: Country Music Icon and Trailblazer
June 14, 2019 06:30 - 50 minutes - 47.3 MBAlli lives out her country girl fantasy and visits Nashville to interview Karen Fairchild, one-fourth of the Grammy Award-winning band, Little Big Town. Together, Alli and Karen find similarities between running a business and running a band, from deal-making and leadership to public performances and building a national brand. They also touch on the gender disparities within the country recording industry, the songwriting process, and country culture. Keep up with Karen at @karenfairchild ...
S2 Ep. 10 Jaime Schmidt: Turning Natural Deoderant into Gold
June 07, 2019 06:30 - 34 minutes - 32.8 MBJaime Schmidt, founder of Schmidt’s Naturals, created her award-winning natural deodorant when she was pregnant and concerned about the widespread use of unnatural ingredients in deodorant. So she created a better alternative for herself and others. From farmers' market tables, her products—which came to include soaps and toothpaste—stormed the shelves of CVS, Walmart, Costco, and Whole Foods. By 2017, when Schmidt sold her company to Unilever for an undisclosed amount, Schmidt's Naturals wa...
S2 Ep. 09 Emily and Meritt: Fashion's Favorite Friendship
May 31, 2019 07:00 - 29 minutes - 27.7 MBYou can thank Emily Current and Meritt Elliott for bringing boyfriend jeans into your closet. After making the jump from styling to designing, the two started Current/Elliott and became denim darlings of the fashion world. Since selling their namesake line in 2011, Emily and Meritt have expanded their brand into home decor (with an ongoing partnership at Pottery Barn) and launched The Great, a multi-category line that embodies their trademark "whimsical Americana" aesthetic. The designer duo...
S2 Ep. 08 Baby2Baby: Hollywood's Favorite Philanthropy
May 24, 2019 07:00 - 54 minutes - 51.1 MBMichael and Alli sit down with Kelly Sawyer Patricof and Norah Weinstein, co-presidents of Baby2Baby, a non-profit organization that provides low-income children ages 0-12 with diapers, clothing, and other basic necessities every child deserves to start life off right. Known for its stylish galas and A-list ambassadors (Jessica Alba, Kate Hudson, and Drew Barrymore, among others), Baby2Baby has become one of L.A.'s most high-profile philanthropies since its founding in 2011. Kelly and Norah ...
S2 Ep.7 Alexa von Tobel: Becoming Financially Fearless
May 17, 2019 07:00 - 42 minutes - 39.3 MBAlexa von Tobel dropped out of Harvard Business School in 2008 to start LearnVest, the online financial planning service designed for the average American that sold in 2015 to Northwestern Mutual. Today, she is the founder and managing partner of Inspired Capital and the New York Times-Bestselling Author of "Financially Fearless" and "Financially Forward." Alexa caught up with Alli and Michael to break down her entrepreneurial journey and the latest trends in venture capital and financial t...
S2 Ep. 6 Sarah Gibson Tuttle: Upending The Manicure Industry
May 10, 2019 07:30 - 43 minutes - 40.7 MBInspired by a lightbulb moment to create "the Drybar for nails," Sarah Gibson Tuttle ditched her NYC finance career to take a risk and open Olive & June, the Instagram-perfect nail salon. Now, after opening three shops, her focus is on democratizing nail-care with Olive & June's line of at-home manicure products. Sarah sat down with Michael and her BFF Alli to relive her early days with one salon and zero business plan, how she and Alli came to work together, and why Olive & June's is tackli...
S2 Ep. 6 Anine Bing: Influencer-Turned-Designer
May 03, 2019 04:30 - 41 minutes - 38.6 MBAnine Bing has become the go-to designer for models and actresses off-duty since leveraging her social media platform into a namesake label in 2012. Like all great founder stories, the Danish-born model and former rock 'n' roll singer launched her online fashion line from the garage of her Los Angeles home. Now, she's expanding to children's wear and opening brick-and-mortar stores across the U.S., U.K, and Europe. Anine sat down with Alli and Michael to talk about the origins of her laidb...
S2 Ep. 5 Brooklyn Decker: Rethinking Retail, Tech, and Your Closet
April 26, 2019 04:30 - 47 minutes - 44.5 MBBrooklyn Decker has made a name for herself on the pages of Sports Illustrated and Netflix's "Grace and Frankie," but now her mission as a tech co-founder is to help women digitize and simplify their closets. She sat down with Alli and Michael to talk about Finery—a virtual closet that generates outfits, styling inspo, and sale alerts— and how the app is saving users time and money with items they already own. Learn more at @brooklyndecker, @yourfinery, and finery.com. And don't forget to fo...
S2 Ep. 4 How Pocket.watch Is Changing Kids' Content with Chris Williams
April 19, 2019 04:30 - 41 minutes - 38.6 MBChris Williams is the founder and CEO of Pocket.watch, a digital-first studio that creates global franchises from the YouTube stars and characters loved by Generation Alpha (kids born in 2011-2025). Chris stops by the studio to talk to Alli and Michael about "kidfluencers," monetizing an online audience, and the future of kids' entertainment. Launched in 2017, Pocket.watch has raised $21 million in funding to develop and launch children’s media brands and spin-off content into books, merchan...
S2 Ep. 3 Kelly Leveque: Nutritionist To The Stars
April 12, 2019 04:30 - 44 minutes - 41.3 MBKelly Leveque is the woman who Jennifer Garner, Jessica Alba, and Busy Phillips turn to when they need help balancing blood sugar and demanding schedules. Kelly unveils to Alli and Michael the inner workings of her consulting business and how she went from mapping genomes for oncologists to staking her claim as one of Hollywood's most sought-after nutrition experts. Plus, she shares her secret wellness and diet tips, including the ones she uses as Alli's health coach. Learn more about Kell...
S2 Ep. 2 Brittany Driscoll: From Drybar Exec to Squeeze CEO
April 05, 2019 04:30 - 45 minutes - 42.4 MBFor years, Alli and Michael sat on their million-dollar idea to create the Goldilocks massage experience—not too pricey, not too cheap—while they were busy building Drybar. But when their VP of Marketing Brittany Driscoll needed a new challenge, their massage concept was reborn. This is the story of how Brittany, Alli, and Michael launched Squeeze, the on-demand massage chain and app disrupting the self-care industry. Learn more about Squeeze by visiting squeezemassage.com or on @squeeze. ...
S2 Ep.1 Emily Schuman: Cupcakes and Cashmere
March 29, 2019 16:48 - 53 minutes - 49.6 MBEmily Schuman has built a thriving lifestyle company on the coattails of Cupcakes and Cashmere, a website she created just 10 years ago. As an OG fashion blogger, she walks Alli and Michael through her career's trajectory, from making the tough decision between staying at AOL or diving headfirst into her burgeoning blog (spoiler alert: she took the risk) to eventually licensing products and launching an e-commerce platform. She maps out the do's and don'ts of building a personal brand and ho...
Raising The Bar Season 2 Trailer
March 15, 2019 04:30 - 2 minutes - 2.62 MBAlli and Michael are back and better than ever with a brand new group of entrepreneurs you will not want to miss! Season 2 begins March 29th!
Elmo Lovano: Build a Band
October 03, 2018 07:05 - 37 minutes - 35.1 MBBefore Jammcard, a job platform for musicians didn’t really exist. So after working as a drummer for years and recognizing the need for it, Elmo decided to build it himself, and he told us all about it. We also answered listener questions about pitch decks, whether to go to business school, whether Dry Bar plans to expand internationally, and social media. This is the last episode of this season of Raising the Bar. But you can still reach out to us! If you have questions for us, you can ...
Rachael Blumberg and Yuval Chiprut: What's On Your Plate?
September 26, 2018 07:05 - 38 minutes - 35.3 MBThis episode features Platefit founders Rachael Blumberg and Yuval Chiprut. Platefit is a boutique exercise company that provides classes designed around the use of Power Plates. The plates, originally developed to help Russian cosmonauts recover after spending time in zero gravity, vibrate to increase muscle contractions during workouts. Rachael and Yuval met while teaching exercise classes at the same gym, eventually becoming business partners -- and life partners, too. Today, they are...
Ellen Bennett: Apron Queen
September 19, 2018 07:05 - 41 minutes - 38.5 MBThis episode features Hedley & Bennett founder and CEO Ellen Bennett. When Ellen was working as a chef in restaurants, she couldn’t believe bad the aprons were. They were ill-fitting, poorly constructed, and everyone hated wearing them. So she decided to reinvent them. Now, thousands of chefs and makers wear her handcrafted aprons. To Ellen, a well-made apron can change the way you look and feel while you work. If you have questions for us, you can DM Alli on Instagram (@alliwebb), or ...
Patrice Banks: Lady Mechanics
September 12, 2018 07:05 - 43 minutes - 40.2 MBThis episode features Girls Auto Clinic founder Patrice Banks. Patrice had a great job as an engineer when she decided give it all up to become a mechanic and open a female-run shop. Her goal? To educate and empower women through their cars. If you have questions for us, you can DM Alli on Instagram (@alliwebb), or email us your questions at [email protected]. Support us by supporting our sponsors! LightStream - Start saving with Light Stream! Get an additional discount at LightStr...
Jaclyn Johnson: Creating and Cultivating
September 05, 2018 07:05 - 38 minutes - 35.4 MBThis episodes features Create & Cultivate’s Jaclyn Johnson! Jaclyn noticed women entrepreneurs needed a space to gather to create their dream careers and her business was born! She’s seen it all, from building a wildly successful festival, going through a business partner breakup and captivating those ever-elusive 'millennials'. After that, we’re answering more of YOUR questions. You can DM Alli on Instagram (@alliwebb), or email us your questions at [email protected]. You can support this s...
Joey Gonzalez: From Client to CEO
August 29, 2018 07:05 - 38 minutes - 35.6 MBThis episode features Barry’s Bootcamp CEO Joey Gonzalez. Joey first fell in love with the high-intensity fitness studio as a customer. He worked his way up the Barry’s ladder, going from instructor to manager to partner and finally, to CEO. Joey talked about how he deals with competition, why hiring good people is crucial to success, and what it’s like being married to another CEO. After we talk to Joey, we’re answering your questions and direct messages. You can DM Alli on Instagram (@al...
Itika Oldwine and Talmadge Lowe: A Flower Shop and a Liquor Store
August 22, 2018 07:05 - 51 minutes - 47.5 MBThis episode features two guests. First, we talked to Itika Oldwine, founder of Oldvine Florals, a high end flower shop in Los Angeles. She talked to us about the decision to go out on her own, how she moved her business from her house to a store, and how former NBA basketball player Matt Barnes became one of her investors. Then, we talked to Talmadge Lowe, co-founder of Hi-Lo Liquor, a craft liquor store also here in Los Angeles. He told us what makes his store unique and why it’s nice to...
Joy Cho: Jump for Joy
August 15, 2018 07:05 - 41 minutes - 38.5 MBThis episode features designer Joy Cho. Her lifestyle brand, Oh Joy, grew from a tiny blog into a successful business with a huge following. She talked about developing brand recognition, why she’s hesitant to expand her business, and how she set herself up for her first million-dollar year. After that, we’re answering your questions and direct messages. You can DM Alli on Instagram (@alliwebb), or email us your questions at [email protected]. Support us by supporting our sponsors! Nut...
Johnny Ray Zone: Do One Thing Well
August 08, 2018 07:05 - 38 minutes - 35.5 MBThis episode features celebrity chef Johnny Ray Zone, the founder and operator of Howlin’ Rays, a Nashville-style hot chicken restaurant in Los Angeles. Howlin’ Rays is so popular, Johnny’s main problem early on was dealing with long lines (seriously, it was hours.) We learned that Nashville hot chicken was invented as a revenge plot, about Johnny’s storied past as a chef and LA’s top restaurants and why he doesn’t want to expand so stop asking! After that, we answered a listener question an...
Hillary Kerr: Who What Wear, Why Not?
August 01, 2018 07:05 - 34 minutes - 31.8 MBOn today's episode, Hillary Kerr is joining us. She’s the cofounder of Clique Brands, which has three brands - Who What Wear, MyDomaine, and Byrdie. We're also here to answer your question, including one we get asked all the time - what are you obsessed with? Short answer: It's a lot. Have a burning question? You can DM Alli on Instagram (@alliwebb), or send your questions to [email protected]. We can't make this show without our incredible sponsors! Wix - Build your beautiful website toda...
Curtis Stone: Cooking with Gas
July 25, 2018 07:15 - 36 minutes - 33.3 MBThis episode features celebrity chef Curtis Stone. He’s had a ton of success, including television shows, cookbooks, and famed LA restaurants, Maude and Gwen. He talked about Anthony Bourdain, his worst kitchen disaster and taught us a new business mantra. After that we’re answering your questions and direct messages. You can DM Alli on Instagram (@alliwebb), or send your questions to [email protected]. Support us by supporting our sponsors! Care/Of - For 25% off your first month of person...
Phil Landau: The First Entrepreneur in Our Lives
July 25, 2018 07:10 - 38 minutes - 35.6 MBIt’s our dad! They may have raised us, but for years Alli and Michael's parents ran a chain of clothing stores in South Florida, Flip’s. It was a family business, and they grew up watching this business grow. And - Alli goes out to Venice Beach and explores Abbot Kinney in “Out With Alli.” Support us by supporting our sponsors! Mac and Mia - Take $25 off your first order at MacAndMia.com/BAR and use promo code BAR.
Sarah Michelle Gellar: From Vampires to Empires
July 25, 2018 07:05 - 34 minutes - 31.6 MBWhen Alli Webb and Michael Landau started Drybar 8 years ago, they had no idea what would happen, but that’s the life of every entrepreneur. Risk everything and you could gain… or lose… everything. So they’re talking to business owners of all kinds - moguls and beginners alike - including Sarah Michelle Gellar. When she started FoodStirs in 2014, she had no idea what would happen, and even for Sarah Michelle Gellar, it hasn’t been an easy road. This is Raising The Bar. Support this show by...