9 to 5ish with theSkimm

Geri Halliwell-Horner, aka Ginger Spice, practically invented girl power and forever holds a special place in our millennial hearts. In her twenties, she answered a magazine ad and ended up making pop history with the Spice Girls. In her thirties, she felt the pressures of “time lines” and adult-life creeping in. Welcome to the club. Listen as Geri shares how girl power carried her through her post-Spice Girls career. In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Geri shares:  The DIY skills she used to create her iconic Union Jack dress How she fought through insecurity during her time in the Spice Girls  How embracing her inner wisdom has guided her through her career One thing she does to stay curious and challenge herself Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 16 April 2025

Tinx never set out to be known as “TikTok’s older sister.” But five years of real talk on taboo topics – dating in your 30s, botox, and having zero clue what to do in life – makes a name like that stick. Social media and influencing has gotten crowded since Tinx started posting on TikTok during COVID, and she admits she’s been rethinking her relationship to the internet and her business. Tinx shares how she's finding ways to build her career offline, thanks in part to her debut novel, Hotter in the Hamptons.  In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Tinx shares:  The difference between Tinx and Christina (yes, that’s her real name) A boundary she has with the internet (that we could all use) Why she only started feeling secure in her business this year  The main reason why not all influencers can sustain their career longterm PS: “Hotter in the Hamptons” is out on May 6.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 9 April 2025

Audrey McLoghlin’s peer once compared her to a cockroach that could withstand nuclear warfare. Weird compliment? Maybe. But Audrey says she was touched. She grew up with an alcoholic father and learned early to rely on herself, not a partner, to make ends meet. As a serial entrepreneur in fashion, she’s built her businesses through some of the toughest economic times—think: the Great Recession and COVID-19—proving resilience is her superpower. In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Audrey shares:  Why “stranger danger” seemingly doesn’t exist in Ireland  How she went from engineering to entrepreneurship in her early 20s The biggest thing she learned going through personal bankruptcy Why she thinks entrepreneurs owning 100% of their company isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 2 April 2025

Before Emily Oster became a go-to parenting expert, she was an econ professor waiting on a tenure decision at the University of Chicago. While waiting, she published Expecting Better, a book that moms-to-be consider to be a parenting Bible. She got rejected for tenure, then spent over a decade believing the book was a “professional mistake”. Parents everywhere beg to differ. Listen as Emily shares how she moved past the disappointment  – and why it actually turned out to be the best thing for her career.  In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Emily shares:  Her weekly mileage as a marathoner (our legs are shaking) Why she refers to herself as a “vagina economist”  How her kids react when she tells them she’s a “parenting expert”  Why she doesn’t shy away from disagreements around her research  Who’ll benefit most from ParentData’s newest vertical  Follow Emily on Instagram: @profemilyoster Follow Carly and Danielle on Instagram: @carlyanddanielle Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 26 March 2025

Erin Burnett flirted with the idea of becoming a CIA agent one day, drawn to the undercover thrills. Instead, she crunched numbers at Goldman Sachs as a financial analyst, then pivoted to be a broadcast journalist. While she never became a secret spy or ran a Wall Street empire, she didn’t let her interests or skills collect dust. Listen as Erin shares how she fused her business knowledge with her world news obsession to land her daily primetime show, OutFront with Erin Burnett.  In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Erin shares:    The irony of becoming a TV news anchor despite growing up without cable How she got the chutzpah to send a cold email asking to meet a CNN host  Her transition from economic to foreign affairs news, and how the former helped inform her new beat  Why she doesn’t regret taking 20 minutes out of her work day to show up for her kids Her relatable answer to how much she’s able to prioritize her mental health  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 19 March 2025

For millennial women, Julia Stiles needs no introduction. She portrayed some of our favorite characters growing up – like Kat in 10 Things I Hate About You and Sara in Save the Last Dance – and challenged one-dimensional portrayals of female characters. After two decades as an actor, Julia has taken her talents behind the camera to direct her first film, Wish You Were Here. Listen as she shares how she’s managed to stay grounded despite being a child actor, how she manifested her directorial debut, and why she has no regrets about taking her time to make it happen. In this episode of 9 to 5ish, shares: How growing up in New York City helped her maintain a grounded attitude  Her decision to go to college instead of continuing her acting career Why Hustlers marked a new chapter of intention for her  How being a mom was the best preparation for being a director  Advice on how to be confident when you lack skills needed for a specific job Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 12 February 2025

Unlike MBA grads focused on scaling and selling companies, Pam Weekes and Connie McDonald built Levain Bakery with no intention of selling. Baking was the life plan, the thing they’d do til their hands couldn’t anymore. They embraced slow, sustainable growth for years with no regrets. Then came a compelling offer and a gut feeling that led them to finally take on an investor. Listen as Pam and Connie share how a YWCA brought them together, how a New York Times article skyrocketed their company's success, and why having patience was their greatest tool. In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Pam and Connie share:  What they loved about their former colleague and supporter, Anthony Bourdain How chance bike ride with an old friend got them a small business loan  When they knew it was time to expand to new locations  How they navigated tedious problems like meeting with community boards and dealing with frustrated neighbors  Why scaling their business slowly was key to their success and when they knew it was time to take on an investor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 5 February 2025

In 2015, Laura Coates traded courtroom drama for newsroom deadlines, leaving her job as a Justice Department prosecutor to dive into a journalism career. She was a new mom with no media experience or contacts, but knew she’d regret it if she never tried. Fast forward to today. Laura is CNN’s Chief Legal Analyst, a Sirius XM host, and a trusted voice on today’s most pressing legal stories. Despite her success, it didn’t come without sacrifice. Listen as Laura gets real about the hard conversations she had with her husband – and herself – about prioritizing her professional ambitions over financial security.  In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Laura shares:    How she charmed her husband when they first met, despite having a waxed off eyebrow Why she found it difficult to financially depend on her husband while figuring out her career  How she got her foot in the door in media with no connections, and why getting the second foot in is more important Why she never shuts down her kids’ curiosity around current events How she’s dealt with big personalities in the courtroom, and on television  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 29 January 2025

Laura Modi’s organic baby formula company, Bobbie, thrived during a formula shortage that saw nearly 50% of the nation’s formula supply vanish. As desperate moms searched for alternatives, many turned to Bobbie, leading to massive growth—until the demand threatened the supply. Laura faced a critical decision: continue accepting new customers or pause growth so OG Bobbie babies were taken care of. Laura tells the story of how her bold choice paid off and how Bobbie has future-proofed itself through smart business decisions. In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Laura shares:    How growing up in rural Western Ireland taught her hospitality  Why it took having a second child to push her to start Bobbie How she navigated Bobbie through a product recall just two weeks after it launched Bobbie’s recent 15% price cut, and how the company was able to do it  Why implementing paid family leave federally would help alleviate moms’ mental health issues  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 22 January 2025

When Han Wen got a job at L’Oréal as an entry-level marketing associate, she didn’t even know what marketing was. The interviewers didn’t care. They spent the bulk of the interview talking about her bold outfit, which she got off the sales rack at J.Crew just an hour before. Fast forward to 2022, and Han became the CMO of L’Oréal USA at just 39-years-old. Talk about a full circle moment. Han shares how she made impressions throughout her corporate career, and how she’s gotten really good at listening – even when it might be hard to hear.  In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Han shares:    Why her work stint in France was nothing like “Emily in Paris” The best lesson she learned about being a people manager  What she focused on instead of chasing after titles during her career How having kids destroyed any illusion of control, and how it carries into her work Why L’Oréal encourages some rule-bending to make great products  Follow Carly and Danielle on Instagram @carlyanddanielle, and be sure to subscribe the show so you never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 15 January 2025

Neha Ruch chose to take an indefinite pause from work after having her second child. She immediately faced raised eyebrows and unsolicited advice. She didn’t bat an eye at her choice. But the reactions got her thinking: why are we riding on outdated stereotypes about moms choosing to exit the workforce to take care of their family for a chapter of their lives? Enter: Mother Untitled, the leading platform dedicated to ambitious women choosing to lean into family life – without shame. Today, Neha shares tips from her new book The Power Pause to help listeners pull it off like pro.  In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Neha shares:    The importance of her gap year in India and what it did for her self-trust Why she couldn’t find the peace and purpose at work that she got from motherhood How stay-at-home-motherhood has been wrongfully labeled as a “luxury” The percentage of women who stop working because of high childcare costs  Financial levers couples can pull to make room in the budget for a future pause  Neha’s Instagram: @motheruntitled Neha’s book: The Power Pause: How to Plan a Career Break After Kids – and Come Back Stronger Than Ever Carly and Danielle’s Instagram: @carlyanddanielle  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 8 January 2025

Alice Milligan left home at 19 to escape a dysfunctional family life. Her peers went to college right out of high school. Meanwhile, Alice spent ten years getting her college degree while working full-time to support herself. She had no choice but to be resilient, independent, and patient. Decades later, and faced with choosing between a dream job or staying near her husband awaiting a liver transplant, Alice shares how the patience she cultivated as a young woman guided her choice. In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Alice shares:  Her deep cut bagel order (cinnamon raisin fans, rejoice) The strong women in her life who helped her navigate leaving home  Why working in HR in her early career served her well throughout her career How she rationalized her choice of remaining close to her family or taking on her dream job  How Morgan Stanley prioritizes women feeling financially empowered – and how the company’s new marketing initiatives reflect that   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 18 December 2024

She’s an icon, she’s a legend, and she is the moment. Connie Chung is the trailblazing veteran broadcaster who worked her way up from being a copy-girl at a local news station to anchoring one of the most popular nightly newscasts, CBS Evening News. To get there, she had to make it through the “boys club” of the 70s newsroom. Think: Mad Men, but news. She says it could’ve been worse. But she made it work by being just as confident as they were. In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Connie shares:    The impact of growing up around four strong-willed sisters   How she defied the racist and sexist stereotypes men had of her Her biggest regret of her career and how she reconciles it now  Why getting fired from CBS Evening News proved to be serendipitous A cameo from her husband, Maury Povich. Yes, that Maury Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 11 December 2024

Welcome back to a new season of 9 to 5ish. We’re kicking things off with Jessica Alba and Lizzy Mathis, two best friends and co-hosts of the show “Honest Renovations” on The Roku Channel. There are plenty of home renovation shows out there. But theirs highlights the importance of mom having their own space to recharge. As moms of three kids each, they learned that the hard way.  In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Jessica and Lizzy share:  Their friendship origin story and why Lizzy lied to Jessica about her age for years How they took the jump from being friends to becoming co-hosts of a show  Why surface-level friendships don’t last in business partnerships  The burnout of filling others’ cups before their own, and how they fixed it  Tips on dealing with the highs and lows of the holiday season  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 4 December 2024

Early in her career, Sharon Price-John literally put pen to paper and wrote what she dubbed her “price values.” AKA: the qualities that guided her in work and life. She reasoned that if she had time to write a grocery list, she could take a second to define what was important to her. Although her price values have inevitably evolved as she got older, Sharon shares that defining her values made the path to achieving her goals a lot clearer. In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Sharon shares:  The brownie points she scored from her kids being a toy company exec Why she follows the age-old advice “love what you do”  What influenced the changes to her “price values” list How she managed to bring Build-A-Bear its three most profitable years ever after COVID The difficulties of succeeding a founder-led business, and how she overcame them

Transcribed - Published: 30 October 2024

Through her twenties and thirties, comedian Jenny Slate couldn’t find peace. By all accounts, she was succeeding. She earned a spot on Saturday Night Live, and became recognizable through her on-screen appearances next to actors like Amy Poehler and Nick Kroll. But she still felt stuck in a cycle of self-criticism and a pressure to always be on. Then she became a mom and it all clicked. Listen as Jenny shares why becoming a mom made her feel less desperate to get jobs, please others, and “perform her tricks”.  In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Jenny shares:  Why living in Massachusetts instead of Los Angeles is helpful for her creative work What traits her parents were most concerned about in her upbringing How leaving Saturday Night Live led her to a major learning about success  Why perfection isn’t worth aiming at, and how she unlearned doing that   How the unconditional love she feels for her kid helped heal her own inner child A skimm of her new memoir, “Life Form”

Transcribed - Published: 23 October 2024

Erin Andrews has become one of the most recognizable sideline reporters in the sports industry. She started out at ESPN in her early twenties, and eventually moved to Fox NFL where she continues to give fans updates on their favorite players and coaches. While Erin’s worked in the biz for nearly two decades, she says she knows there’s a “shelf life” to her job. But the only way she’ll stop is if they drag her off the sidelines – and Erin says, it ain’t gonna be pretty.   In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Erin shares:  The news junkie side of her, and how it’s ruined family vacations  How she’s proactively addressing the “shelf life” of her on-camera career  The trauma she endured after being stalked, and how it informs her boundaries today How she’s built genuine relationships with her colleagues and the people she covers Why work became such a safe haven for her after going through her cervical cancer diagnosis and IVF treatments PS: Check out Erin Andrews podcast, Calm Down.

Transcribed - Published: 16 October 2024

Before she became mayor, Kate Gallego was nearly spooked out of running for office. She was newly divorced (read: unmarried). Her support system drastically changed after her mom was diagnosed with cancer. Her only income was through her job on the city council, and she questioned whether Phoenix could stomach such a young woman as mayor. Spoiler alert: she’s been mayor now for five years. Her legacy so far? Redefining what’s possible for young working moms who don’t have perfect personal lives.  In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Mayor Gallego shares:  How climate defined her childhood and early professional career Why people should run for office even if their personal life isn’t perfect The women in government who guided her through her own public service career How she implemented a 12-week paid family leave policy for public employees, plus a surprising fact on who uses it the most

Transcribed - Published: 9 October 2024

Eventbrite CEO Julia Hartz said “I do” to Kevin Hartz twice: once when they got married, and again when she decided to become a co-founder with him. Julia says she doesn’t even remember the latter moment. All she knows is she trusted Kevin’s entrepreneurial instincts and it paid off. But when Kevin needed to step down as CEO and have Julia step in, she describes the transition as going from “Candyland” to “Tron”.   In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Julia shares:  What her internships on “Friends” and “Jackass” taught her The unofficial exit strategy she and Kevin agreed on in case they didn’t work out romantically Why it was bittersweet stepping up as CEO while Kevin navigated health struggles health struggled   How Eventbrite’s IPO was the most diverse in NYSE history Why she takes it personally when female executive leadership exit the business after going public

Transcribed - Published: 2 October 2024

On the literal first day Rachel Zoe decided to be a freelance stylist, Tommy Hilfiger called her up to style a 2-week campaign with the biggest celebs and supermodels. She had 0 faith in herself, but he trusted she could do it. Rachel spent her career mainly behind the camera until her clients – who were the it-girls of our time – started pulling her in front of the paps with them. That turned into a Bravo TV show about her life, “The Rachel Zoe Project” and several fashion-focused brands centered around her styling. The best part? She never planned any of it. In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Rachel shares: The subconscious impact of growing up near New York City Her biggest fashion pet peeve in the workplace How she managed her limelight career as an introvert Why she decided to allow Bravo to film her life, despite swearing it off initially Whether or not she’d be able to launch her styling career in the age of social media How not having a plan for her whole career ended up working out

Transcribed - Published: 25 September 2024

Claudette Zepeda grew up as a border kid between San Diego and Tijuana. On top of that, she spent summers in Guadalajara, watching her aunt run a bustling restaurant. She didn’t know it then, but those summers created the foundations for Mexican cuisine and hospitality in her mind. Then, she became a mom at 18-years-old. Claudette was a kid raising her own kid. She needed to pay the bills, sure. But what Claudette wanted more was to figure out how to build intergenerational wealth – and how to inspire young single moms to believe they could do it too. In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Claudette shares: Why she never allowed herself to dream beyond getting off food stamps and paying her bills on time How she stumbled into being a celebrity chef thanks to “right place, right time” Why it’s detrimental to not talk about failures publicly A recent on-air mess up she can’t stop thinking about, and what it taught her

Transcribed - Published: 18 September 2024

Mary Barra grew up in the suburbs of Detroit, aka: the heart of the auto industry. Her father worked at General Motors for 40 years, and Mary became a second generation GM’er. She worked her way up the company, studying at the General Motors Institute (yes, it was a thing) to eventually becoming the CEO in 2014. Mary claimed GOAT status in the auto industry for steering the company through several crises – and for being a mentor to other women in the biz. In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Mary shares: Who would make the cut on her cross-country road trip roster Why she’s never blinked twice at the rarity of being a woman in the auto industry The most difficult crisis she had to navigate a CEO Advice to her daughter and other women on when it’s time to leave a job Why she views herself as a caretaker to General Motors and what that responsibility means

Transcribed - Published: 11 September 2024

Jamie Kern Lima sold her company, IT Cosmetics, for $1.2 billion to L’Oréal. The sale made Jamie the first female CEO of a L’Oréal brand and safe to say, she made a pretty penny. She'd made it. At least that’s what everyone thought. In reality, Jamie says she didn't have an ounce of self-worth to make her feel like she deserved any of it. In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Jamie shares: Why befriending Oprah deepened her understanding of being “enough” How she distinguishes between self-confidence and self-worth Her struggles with work addiction and how it affected her relationship with her family The story of learning to quiet self-doubt and learning to trust herself with her new book, Worthy: How to Believe You Are Enough and Transform Your Life PS: 9 to 5ish is going on summer vacation. We'll be back in your feed in September.

Transcribed - Published: 31 July 2024

Today, we’ve got a bonus episode of “9 to 5ish” for you with a guest whose name has been in the news a lot lately. Our guest is Gretchen Whitmer, the governor of Michigan, the co-chair of Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign, and author of the New York Times bestseller “True Gretch: What I’ve Learned About Life, Leadership, and Everything in Between.” As a popular governor of a swing state, Governor Whitmer’s name has been floated in convos about who might be on the Democratic ticket since Biden ended his re-election campaign. In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Governor Whitmer shares: Whether you’ll see a Harris-Whitmer ticket in 2024 What politicians can do to stop political violence How democrats should think about reaching conservative and independent voters What most people are surprised to learn about her after reading her book

Transcribed - Published: 25 July 2024

When Seema Bansal Chadha was in her early twenties, she was in a very new, long distance relationship with a guy named Sunny. In classic LDR-status, he sent her flowers for Valentine's Day. It was supposed to be a romantic gesture, but the flowers arrived wilted. NBD though. The flop would lead Seema to move to New York to be with Sunny…and to co-found Venus et Fleur with him too. In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Seema shares: Why her father’s lighting and plumbing store informed her own entrepreneurship How she rationalized starting a biz with her boyfriend of less than a year The moment Venus et Fleur blew up (shout out to the Kardashians) How the hustle of the early days compares to the hustle now Why protecting your existing customers sometimes outweighs trying to attract new ones

Transcribed - Published: 24 July 2024

In 2018, Mandana Dayani watched as the family-separation policy played out at the southern border. It was deeply unsettling. Her family fled as refugees from Iran to the US as an authoritarian regime took over. She asked herself: how could a country that saved my life do this? Mandana quickly learned that civic engagement was the only way things could meaningfully change. Enter: I am a voter., Mandana's org that's on a mission to rebrand voter identity to get young people to the polls. In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Mandana shares: The culture shock of being a refugee in the US How she went from being a lawyer to a brand strategist to the co-founder of a political org The advice she got from Mom's Demand Action founder, Shannon Watts (spoiler alert: women get sh*t done) How trust in existing brands and celebrities jumpstarted I am a voter.

Transcribed - Published: 17 July 2024

Most nepo babies deny the privileges afforded to them by their parents. Allison Statter isn’t one of them. She’s never been shy about having entertainment industry titans for parents, or about being Kim Kardashian’s lifelong BFF. But after working at her dad’s management company for 17 years, people started whispering about her legitimacy. To prove she could make it on her own, Allison kissed job security goodbye and launched her own entertainment marketing agency, Blended Strategy Group. Talk about a full 180. In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Allison shares: A fact about Kim K that most people don’t know How her parent’s working relationship stayed strong despite separating multiple times How a temporary 2-week stint at her dad’s company turned in 17-year long career Why the stakes are so much higher working in a family business How she’s learned more launching a company than she has her entire career

Transcribed - Published: 10 July 2024

Today, we’re going back into the 9 to 5ish archives to bring you one of our favorite episodes with journalist Lisa Ling. Despite reporting the news professionally since she was a teenager, Lisa says she doubts herself constantly in work settings. She shares how she quiets the voice in her head that makes her question her worth at work, plus the value she sees in women of color advocating for each other in the workplace. We'll be back with a fresh episode next week. In this episode, Lisa shares: The reporting experiences she had as a teen (alongside Anderson Cooper) Why her two male agents told her to leave negotiating to them The one lesson she wishes her young self learned How having kids reframed her boundaries around how far she’d go for her job Why it’s key for women of color to learn to advocate for each other in the workplace

Transcribed - Published: 3 July 2024

Planned Parenthood president and CEO Alexis McGill Johnson is a self-described “movement baby" as her parents fought for racial equality during the civil rights movement. As an adult, she mixed pop culture with civic engagement to turn out young voters of color. Even though she credited her success to the women who raised her, she wasn’t specifically thinking about the role of gender in social justice issues. Then she walked by a billboard in SoHo depicting the dire state of reproductive health care for Black women. It quickly became all she could think about. In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Alexis shares: Her go-to bagel order as a certified Jersey girl The biggest lesson her mom taught her about community organizing Why a Princeton professor thanked her after she called out his racial prejudice How she finds time to plan for the future of the org with so much uncertainty Her secret to getting people to see her perspective on politicized issues like abortion

Transcribed - Published: 26 June 2024

When Sarah Paiji-Yoo became a mom, she started rethinking her serial entrepreneurship life she’d led since leaving Harvard Business School. She loved it, but early-stage startup building isn’t exactly a walk in the park. If she was going to hustle again, it had to mean something to her. Meanwhile, she was learning about the effects microplastics in our water have on us (spoiler alert: it’s scary stuff). Naturally, the serial entrepreneur in her was hungry for a solution to both of these issues. She found it in her plastic-free cleaning product company, Blueland. In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Sarah shares: The classic new-mom research rabbit hole she fell in Why she hid from her in-laws that she wasn’t working for a year after having her son How having unclear choices as a consumer and mom led her to found Blueland Why recruiting her #1 pick for the Head of Product was crucial to Blueland’s success The difficulty of being a sustainable business while being beholden to outside investors Advice for listeners who feel too small to make an impact (hint: no action is too small) Psst…this episode of “9 to 5ish” is brought to you by New York Life. Their financial professionals can help you navigate life’s decisions, big and small.

Transcribed - Published: 19 June 2024

When Sarah Paiji-Yoo became a mom, she started rethinking her serial entrepreneurship life she’d led since leaving Harvard Business School. She loved it, but early-stage startup building isn’t exactly a walk in the park. If she was going to hustle again, it had to mean something to her. Meanwhile, she was learning about the effects microplastics in our water have on us (spoiler alert: it’s scary stuff). Naturally, the serial entrepreneur in her was hungry for a solution to both of these issues. She found it in her plastic-free cleaning product company, Blueland. In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Sarah shares: The classic new-mom research rabbit hole she fell in Why she hid from her in-laws that she wasn’t working for a year after having her son How having unclear choices as a consumer and mom led her to found Blueland Why recruiting her #1 pick for the Head of Product was crucial to Blueland’s success The difficulty of being a sustainable business while being beholden to outside investors Advice for listeners who feel too small to make an impact (hint: no action is too small) Psst…this episode of “9 to 5ish” is brought to you by New York Life. Their financial professionals can help you navigate life’s decisions, big and small.

Transcribed - Published: 19 June 2024

SNL called Meghan McCain the “Princess of Arizona”, and she’s embracing it. Her last name is nearly synonymous with Arizona as her father, the late Senator John McCain, led a 30+ year political career in the state. Her family name laddered Meghan up to big career moves, from regularly commentating on Fox News to repping conservative view points on “The View”. And she says: more nepo babies like her should own it, not shy away from it. In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Meghan shares: The cringiest photo op she had to do as the Senator’s kid Why opting out from having an opinion was never an option growing up How her family settled political disagreements and why all politics are celebrated in her family The event that changed her views on paid family leave – and why all moms deserve it Why she’s not voting for Trump or Biden, and what her dad would do

Transcribed - Published: 12 June 2024

Tiffany Masteron’s grandma told her the name “Drunk Elephant” was the most asinine thing she’d ever heard. Granny wasn’t the only one – her friends thought so too. But Tiffany never bent when it came to her vision of the company…even though she was a stay-at-home mom with zero experience in skincare. Instead, she had this gut feeling about her ingredient formulation and trusted it was different enough to take the company far. Spoiler alert: it did. In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Tiffany shares: Why she chose to disrupt stay-at-home mom life to become an entrepreneur When she realized her first entrepreneurial journey was kinda sketchy How she discovered the Drunk Elephant “Suspicious Six” philosophy – and why it works The moment she knew her company had “made it” (hello, Sephora) Her response when consumers claim Drunk Elephant markets to kids

Transcribed - Published: 5 June 2024

In the 1990s, Christy Turlington posed alongside icons like Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, and Linda Evangelista as one of the world’s first supermodels. She retired by 25 before going to college, earning her degree, and getting married. Then came her first baby – and a life-changing birthing experience that would inform her future work and advocacy. In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Christy shares: The benefits of her sister marrying her brother-in-law (hint: holidays are a breeze) Why she has “survivors’ guilt” about getting out of the modeling industry unscathed Her thoughts on building a career out of being a supermodel Her traumatic birthing story and how it led to the founding Every Mother Counts Advice on how to advocate for yourself in medical settings Psst…this episode of 9 to 5ish is brought to you by New York Life. Their financial professionals can help you navigate life’s decisions, big and small. PS: A new episode of 9 to 5ish will be back in your feed next month.

Transcribed - Published: 8 May 2024

At 59, Edith Cooper never thought she’d make a career pivot. She spent nearly 30 years working her way up at Goldman Sachs, but then, she was approached to co-found a company called Medley. Who was the other co-founder? Jordan Taylor, AKA her daughter. The mom and daughter duo launched Medley, a coaching platform equipping Millennial-aged workers with the skills they need to be dynamic, inclusive, and authentic leaders. In this episode, Jordan and Edith share: Whether Jordan calls Edith “mom” or “Edith” in the workplace The parts of her Wall Street HR career that Edith misses Why we forget to support middle-level managers – and how Medley solves for it The moments Jordan relies on Edith as “mom” vs. “co-founder” Why boundary setting is crucial to success as co-founders who are friends or family Psst…this episode of “9 to 5ish” is brought to you by New York Life. Their financial professionals can help you navigate life’s decisions, big and small.

Transcribed - Published: 1 May 2024

Kentucky-born model Molly Sims never met a biscuit she didn’t like. Her southern charm brought her to college at Vanderbilt University, where she made the boldest move of her career: quitting her pre-law studies to become a full time model. Molly was in her early 20s, alone, and homesick halfway across the world. But with placements on the cover of Sports Illustrated, French Vogue and more, it’s safe to say she made a name for herself. In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Molly shares: Why southern sorority culture wasn’t for her How her mother encouraged her to think beyond the US for her career + life experience Why she’d never want her daughter to become a model The secret to building resilience and the “thick skin” that helped her survive the industry How confronting her mental health challenges helped her be OK with work curveballs

Transcribed - Published: 24 April 2024

Alli Webb was a stay-at-home mom for five years when she realized she needed to get out of the house more. So she started a mobile hair business. She’d go house-to-house and offer $40 blowouts to moms in LA, something that pretty much no one was doing at the time. She soon opened her first brick and mortar and called it Drybar. 100+ locations later, Alli sold the company for more than $200 million. All without a college degree or formal business training. In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Alli shares: The sunshine and beach-haired days of her childhood growing up in Boca Raton How having parents who operated a small biz gave her life lessons in entrepreneurship Why it felt intoxicating building and scaling Drybar, plus the mental cost that came with it How her divorce, son’s visit to rehab, and burnout led to her book, “The Messy Truth” Why she felt intimidated when fundraising + curating the Drybar board – and how she got through it

Transcribed - Published: 17 April 2024

Before September 2018, the public didn’t know Dr. Christine Blasey Ford. She was a busy mom and professor at Palo Alto University and Stanford. Then, she leveled a sexual assault accusation against Judge Brett Kavanaugh, a SCOTUS nominee. She testified in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee and 5 million people tuned in. From then on, any concept of a private life went out the window. Christine needed security to go…well, anywhere. Strangers sent her and her family death threats. Five years later, Christine shares how she navigates her new normal, plus the story behind the headlines and soundbites. In this episode, Christine shares: The behind-the-scenes leading up to her testimony against Judge Kavanaugh What she makes of her unique connection to Anita Hill Suggestions on what to say to sexual assault survivors instead of “I believe you” What parts of working on her memoir, “One Way Back”, were therapeutic – and which were re-traumatizing Content warning: this topic deals with sexual assault. Please take care when listening.

Transcribed - Published: 10 April 2024

Zibby Owens witnessed first-hand the payoff of great entrepreneurship as she watched her father build his company, Blackstone, from the ground up. She freelanced as a writer earlier in her career. She focused on raising her kids for 10+ years. Then her marriage ended. So she spent her weekends without the kids rekindling her love of literature – and developing a media empire focusing on all things books. In this episode, Zibby shares: The story behind her iconic color-coordinated bookshelf What she learned watching her father build his private equity business, Blackstone Her recent Vogue article she published – and why she almost wishes she hadn’t How her podcast became the vehicle to sell her first book Why building your personal brand is key in almost any industry today

Transcribed - Published: 3 April 2024

Ancestry CEO Deb Liu grew up in one of the only Asian families in South Carolina. To avoid being teased, she mostly kept to herself. It wasn’t until Deb got to Stanford Business School when she realized: she had to learn to speak up. That realization spurred her long career in Silicon Valley. But Deb says, without some openness and vulnerability from herself and others, it never would’ve happened. In this episode, Deb shares: Why she should’ve been fired from her first product management role How being open and vulnerable with her boss actually helped her career Key moments from her tech-heavy product career at eBay + Facebook Why being a “strategic introvert” allowed her to contribute more effectively at work Her most used tip from her new book, Take Your Power Back

Transcribed - Published: 27 March 2024

The late-90s bubblegum pop music defined Mandy Moore’s career. She always knew she was her record label’s answer to Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. Mandy also knew she’d never be them – and that was okay with her. In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Mandy shares advice on how to know your competition without becoming distracted by it. In this episode, Mandy shares: The boy band she’d tour with again Why having parents who didn’t want to manage her was the secret to her success How she managed to be unbothered by the pop industry’s comparison loop Her go-to practices for easing her public speaking anxiety A skimm of her latest project, The Boars’ Nest

Transcribed - Published: 20 March 2024

Growing up with a politico father in Washington D.C., Alex Wagner initially swore off any career that dealt with politics. 25-ish years later, Alex is the primetime anchor of MSNBC's “Alex Wagner Tonight,” a show about the news and politics shaping our world. Talk about a 180. In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Alex tells us how doing everything she was not “supposed” to do jump-started her media career. In this episode, Alex shares: How a pair of vintage heels nearly ruined her job interview with George Clooney The influence her father’s political work had on her own career How she wiggled her way into media with zero connections in the industry Why writing her memoir was the hardest thing she’s done professionally The lessons she learned from Rachel Maddow when she took over her primetime slot

Transcribed - Published: 13 March 2024

Award-winning director and producer Ava DuVernay, known for her groundbreaking films like “Selma,” “A Wrinkle In Time,” and “Origin,” didn’t actually start her career behind the camera. She spent years working in public relations before taking the plunge and pivoting in her 30s. Spoiler: it paid off. And she’s got an Academy Award to show for it. To kick off our new season of "9 to 5ish," we spoke to Ava about how she embraced change and found joy in her career. PS: Ava’s film, “Origin,” will be streaming on demand starting March 12. In this episode, Ava shares: Why she’s intentional about finding joy in her work What “ear hustling” is – and why it’s helped her level up in her career How she’s learned to embrace change in her industry The secret to a good working partnership (plus, what she’s learned from Oprah)

Transcribed - Published: 6 March 2024

Today, we’ve got a special bonus episode of “9 to 5ish” for you. Our guest is Nikki Haley, the former governor of South Carolina and former US Ambassador to the United Nations during the Trump Administration. She’s currently running for the Republican nomination for president. In this episode, we talk to Governor Haley about the job she wants, running against her former boss, and her positions on reproductive rights, the economy, and more. At theSkimm, we’ve mobilized hundreds of thousands of women to vote. And it’s important that we hear directly from the candidates about the policy positions that impact women. We’ve also invited President Biden and former president Trump to sit down with us.

Transcribed - Published: 22 February 2024

Fern Mallis – aka “fashion’s godmother” – is a legend in the industry. She’s the founder of New York Fashion Week and the former executive director of the Council of Fashion Designers of America. Over decades working behind the scenes, Fern has seen it all – from disasters, to demanding personalities, to less-than-friendly behavior. So it makes sense that Fern told us her best piece of career advice is refreshingly simple: Just be nice. Your move, Miranda Priestly. In this episode, Fern shares: Her behind-the-scenes look into the fashion world The origin story of Fashion Week How she’s thought about reinventing herself and her career Why she’s never stuck to a career plan How she got her biggest opportunities by raising her hand Psst: Need a movie rec? Catch “Scrambled,” at a theater near you starting February 2nd. Rated R, under 17 not admitted without parent.

Transcribed - Published: 31 January 2024

Lori Coulter and Reshma Chattaram Chamberlin are the co-founders of Summersalt, the clothing brand that launched in 2017 with perfect-fit swimsuits. Now, Summersalt has expanded to offer activewear, apparel, and loungewear, and has raised over $25 million dollars. In today’s episode, Lori and Reshma walk us through how they built the brand, why they decided to partner with each other, and what people don’t tell you about being an entrepreneur. In this episode, Lori and Reshma share: How they created a brand that’s unapologetically for women Their advice for future entrepreneurs How the fundraising landscape has changed for brands Why connecting to your customer is critical

Transcribed - Published: 24 January 2024

Lori Coulter and Reshma Chattaram Chamberlin are the co-founders of Summersalt, the clothing brand that launched in 2017 with perfect-fit swimsuits. Now, Summersalt has expanded to offer activewear, apparel, and loungewear, and has raised over $25 million dollars. In today’s episode, Lori and Reshma walk us through how they built the brand, why they decided to partner with each other, and what people don’t tell you about being an entrepreneur. In this episode, Lori and Reshma share: How they created a brand that’s unapologetically for women Their advice for future entrepreneurs How the fundraising landscape has changed for brands Why connecting to your customer is critical

Transcribed - Published: 24 January 2024

Influencer, Summer Fridays co-founder, and podcast host Marianna Hewitt does everything with intention. She’s become an expert at creating habits and routines that set her up for success and allow her to prioritize her own happiness. Today, we spoke with the beauty creator and founder about how she’s been intentional throughout her career, and about her most successful habits and hacks. In this episode, Marianna shares: How growing up living between Ohio and Germany influenced her career Her process for taking inventory of her career and checking in with herself How she sets boundaries and says “no” Her journey launching Summer Fridays How to actually reduce your screen time and mend your relationship with social media

Transcribed - Published: 17 January 2024

Julie Rice and Elizabeth Cutler are two-time wellness founders. Their first business, SoulCycle, revolutionized the wellness, fitness, and fashion industries (they basically invented athleisure). Now, their second venture is focused on exercising a different muscle – our relational fitness. We spoke with Julie and Elizabeth about how relationships have been the key to their success, and how they’ve learned to navigate hard professional and personal conversations. In this episode, Julie and Elizabeth share: Why relational fitness is essential to being a better professional – and how to improve yours When they knew it was time to exit SoulCycle How they manage and nurture their partnership How the brand of SoulCycle exploded What it takes to build more than one business

Transcribed - Published: 10 January 2024

Jane Hertzmark Hudis is one of the most prominent beauty executives in the country. As an executive group president of the Estée Lauder Companies – the organization she’s been at for over 30 years – she oversees some of the biggest beauty brands in the world, including Tom Ford Beauty and La Mer. Her secret to making it to the top? Embrace the beauty of connections, find mentors, and hire a team you can learn from. In this episode, Jane shares: Why it’s crucial to hire people who are smarter than you Her tips for making work travel more bearable Her experience raising children while on the executive track How she thought about growing her career at one company What Kendall Jenner taught her about social media

Transcribed - Published: 3 January 2024