Find partners
Biz & Tech Podcasts — Collaboration Platform
Menu
Submit Podcast
WHERE BRAINS MEET BEAUTY

WHERE BRAINS MEET BEAUTY

Hosted by Jodi Katz

BusinessArtsInterviews guests
WebsiteRSS feed

Episodes

300

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN

About the show

The beauty industry's top talent share their wisdom, advice and authenticity with our WHERE BRAINS MEET BEAUTY™ listeners. Topics include: work/life balance, how to hustle and how to handle challenges - all discussed with great honesty and humor. Conversations humanizing the beauty exec experience. Hosted by Jodi Katz, Founder and Creative Director of Base Beauty Creative Agency. New episodes launch every other Wednesday - follow us to get alerts! Episodes can be found on all streaming platforms and our website www.wherebrainsmeetbeauty.com Follow us on LinkedIn @JodiKatz and @BaseBeautyCreativeAgency for announcements, BTS, and more! For inquiries about the show, please email Natasha@basebeauty.com.

Listen to episodes

60 recent
August 5, 202657 min

Episode 313 - Amanda Domaleczny & Dan Reich - Brand Building, and Why "Everything Is Figureoutable"

What happens when you stop accepting industry rules as fact and start asking, "Why not?"On Episode 313 of Where Brains Meet Beauty, Personal Day CEO Amanda Domaleczny and Co-Founder Dan Reich join Jodi Katz for a conversation about entrepreneurship, innovation, and building brands that challenge conventional thinking.Amanda shares how a career spanning operations, product development, sales, and retail strategy shaped her approach to leadership, while Dan reflects on his journey from technology entrepreneur to beauty founder and the lessons he's learned building multiple high-growth brands.Together, they discuss the importance of questioning assumptions, the power of surrounding yourself with exceptional people, and why some of the most meaningful opportunities come from being willing to take risks that others won't.They also explore the vision behind Personal Day and how the brand is working to reimagine the acne category by combining science, emotional connection, and a more approachable consumer experience.It's a thoughtful conversation about leadership, resilience, entrepreneurship, and the belief that sometimes the best path forward is the one that hasn't been tried before.Thank you to our partner CEW. If you're looking to accelerate your career and expand your network, visit CEW.org and use code WBMB20 for 20% off your first year of membership.

July 22, 202643 min

Episode 312 - Julie Bailey Blanche & Shannon McSweeney - Consumer Obsession & Continuous Innovation at Shark Beauty

What does it take to build products that consumers don't just use, but genuinely love?On Episode 312 of Where Brains Meet Beauty, Shark Beauty Global Head of Marketing Julie Bailey Blanche and Vice President of Product Development Shannon McSweeney join Jodi Katz for a conversation about innovation, leadership, and the relentless pursuit of solving real consumer needs.Julie and Shannon share how Shark Beauty approaches product development differently, from identifying unmet consumer needs and challenging assumptions to creating a culture where teams are encouraged to evolve their thinking when new information emerges.Together, they discuss the power of consumer feedback, the importance of cross-functional collaboration, and why some of the most successful innovations come from asking a simple question: How can we make this experience better?It's an insightful conversation about product development, brand building, and the mindset required to continuously raise the bar in a competitive category.Thank you to our partner CEW. If you're looking to accelerate your career and expand your network, visit CEW.org and use code WBMB20 for 20% off your first year of membership.

July 8, 202646 min

Episode 311 - Shelagh Wong & Arpon Ray - Creator-Led Brands, Operational Excellence, and Building for the Long Term

What does it take to transform a highly engaged community into a lasting consumer brand?On Episode 311 of Where Brains Meet Beauty, Sincerely Yours COO & CMO Shelagh Wong and Coefficient Capital Partner Arpon Ray join Jodi Katz for a conversation about entrepreneurship, investing, and building brands that can stand the test of time.Shelagh shares how her background in management consulting shaped her approach to leadership, operations, and brand building, while Arpon discusses what investors look for when evaluating emerging consumer brands and the importance of finding businesses with a true competitive advantage.Together, they explore the launch of Sincerely Yours, the power of community-driven growth, the realities of scaling a creator-led brand, and why sustainable success requires balancing creativity, discipline, and long-term thinking.It's a thoughtful conversation about leadership, culture, growth, and what it takes to build a brand that resonates far beyond its initial audience.Thank you to our partner CEW. If you're looking to accelerate your career and expand your network, visit CEW.org and use code WBMB20 for 20% off your first year of membership.

June 24, 202641 min

Episode 310 - David Krzypow & Lauren Katz - Brand Identity, Consumer Connection, and Building Beyond the Hero Product

What does it take to build a beauty brand that can grow beyond a single hero product while staying true to its purpose? On Episode 310 of Where Brains Meet Beauty, Mutha COO David Krzypow and Head of Brand Marketing Lauren Katz join Jodi Katz for a conversation about brand building, leadership, and navigating growth in today's increasingly competitive beauty landscape.David shares how his journey from engineering to beauty helped shape his approach to building brands through analytical rigor and creative thinking, while Lauren discusses the importance of deeply understanding your customer and translating authentic brand stories into meaningful marketing.Together, they explore what it takes to stay focused when faced with constant noise, how Mutha has evolved from a product created to solve a real need into a growing beauty brand, and why strong brand identity remains one of the most valuable assets a company can have.It's a thoughtful conversation about career growth, entrepreneurship, motherhood, and the balance between intuition and strategy that drives successful brands forward. Thank you to our partner CEW. If you're looking to accelerate your career and expand your network, visit CEW.org and use code WBMB20 for 20% off your first year of membership.

June 10, 202640 min

Episode 309 - Jeff Giordano Martinez-Fonts & Liz Cavalieri - Beyond the Product: Building Trust, Teams & Brands

In Episode 309 of Where Brains Meet Beauty, host Jodi Katz sits down with two accomplished sales leaders, Jeff Giordano Martinez-Fonts, founder of GIO Marketing Consultants LLC, and Liz Cavalieri, Vice President of Sales at Malin + Goetz, for a candid conversation about the evolving relationship between beauty, sales, and leadership.Jeff and Liz share the winding career paths that led them to the beauty industry, from early aspirations and unexpected career pivots to leadership roles at some of the industry's most recognized brands. Together, they explore the realities of driving growth in a competitive marketplace, the importance of innovation without compromising brand identity, and how consumer trust remains the foundation of long-term success.The discussion also dives into leadership philosophies, team empowerment, shelf strategy, product development, and the challenges of staying relevant in a rapidly changing beauty landscape. Whether you're building a brand, leading a team, or navigating your own career journey, this episode offers valuable insights on adaptability, resilience, and what it takes to thrive in beauty today. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about sales, strategy, leadership, and the human side of building successful beauty brands.Thanks to our partner CEW where you can discover how to accelerate your career - go to  CEW.org and use code WBMB20 for 20% off your first year of membership.

May 27, 202639 min

Episode 308 - Michelle LeBlanc - Shopper Behavior, Localization & the Future of Beauty Retail at CVS

In Episode 308 of Where Brains Meet Beauty, Jodi Katz sits down with Michelle LeBlanc, VP Merchandising, Beauty, & Personal Care at CVS Health, to discuss the strategy behind merchandising beauty across more than 8,000 stores.Michelle shares how CVS approaches localization, balances legacy and emerging brands, and thinks about shopper behavior through the lens of speed, convenience, and accessibility. She explains why CVS sees itself as an “anti-destination” retailer, how customer feedback shapes assortments, and what today’s shoppers are really asking for.The conversation also explores Michelle’s 20-year career journey, her leadership philosophy centered on kindness and psychological safety, and the realities of balancing executive leadership with parenting three boys. It’s a thoughtful conversation about modern retail, beauty discovery, and leading with humanity. Thanks to our partner CEW where you can discover how to accelerate your career - go to CEW.org and use code WBMB20 for 20% off your first year of membership.

April 22, 202636 min

Episode 307 - Rose & Ben Siard - Creativity, Community, and Doing It Together: From Love Songs to Brushes Designed for the Perfect Blend

Episode 307 of Where Brains Meet Beauty wraps the “Power Duos” series with Rose and Ben Siard, co-founders of Rose and Ben Beauty. They share their 23-year partnership from meeting as teens in Texas to building a brand rooted in clear roles, mutual respect, and a community-first mindset.Before beauty, they were musicians, writing and performing together for over a decade, an experience that shaped their creative and business chemistry. Rose’s makeup journey began organically on social media, where a loyal, long-standing community became the foundation of the brand. Ben brought operational expertise from his career in oil and gas, creating a balance that allows Rose to focus on creativity while he handles execution.They discuss maintaining authenticity while scaling, staying personally connected to their audience, and navigating challenges with transparency. The episode highlights their partnerships, their problem-solving approach to business, and how their shared history continues to influence their growth.It’s a story of love, resilience, and building something meaningful together.

April 8, 202634 min

Episode 306 - Allison & Jacqueline Taylor - Farm to Formula: Sisters Scaling Le Prunier from Orchard to Global Brand

Episode 306 of Where Brains Meet Beauty continues the “Power Duos” series with sisters Allison and Jacqueline Taylor, co-founders of Le Prunier. What began as a fourth-generation Northern California plum farm evolved into a modern skincare brand rooted in sustainability, science, and family legacy.Allison and Jacqueline took very different paths - music and fashion on one side, wellness and culinary science on the other but shared a deep curiosity about ingredients. That curiosity led them back to their family’s farm, where they uncovered the untapped potential of antioxidant-rich plum byproducts and transformed them into a hero skincare ingredient.In this episode, they open up about building a business with siblings, dividing roles based on strengths, and creating boundaries that protect both the company and their relationships. They also share the reality of scaling a farm-based beauty brand from regenerative agriculture and proprietary production systems to navigating a sudden surge in demand after a viral celebrity moment after Chrissy Teigen mentioned the brand in 2020.Also joined by their third sister, the founders reflect on how their definition of success has evolved from chasing milestones to prioritizing team wins, longevity, and shared growth. The conversation ends with a skincare-inspired travel game, where the sisters choose their dream “skin reset” destinations, from Bali to Seoul to Kyoto, and a gentle reminder that skin does best when we do less: be consistent, be careful when switching products, and keep the routine calm, especially when life is moving fast.Le Prunier would like to offer our viewers 20% off just use code BEAUTY20 to try anything at leprunier.com.

March 25, 202647 min

Episode 305 - Laura Geller & Sara Mitzner - a Modern Makeup Movement for Mature Skin: From QVC to TikTok Bridging Generations in Beauty

Episode 305 of Where Brains Meet Beauty continues our Power Duos theme with an iconic beauty brand and the duo helping it thrive in a new era: Laura Geller, Founder of Laura Geller Beauty, and Sara Mitzner, VP of Brand Marketing. Together they share how founder authenticity, sharp brand focus, and a deep understanding of the customer have powered massive relevance, especially as pro-aging and mature-skin makeup becomes a cultural movement.Their power duo dynamic is built on mutual trust and amplification. Sara calls it plainly: Laura is the story. A founder who shows up, teaches, jokes, and connects makes marketing feel effortless. Laura credits Sara with making her relevant by tapping into her authenticity, letting her be funny, and building a content engine that actually sounds like her. A turning point came when Laura voiced concern that the brand was drifting away from its core QVC customer. Sara listened, ran a full brand analysis, confirmed the real demographic, and leaned in. That focus unlocked growth and helped the brand lead the pro-aging conversation at exactly the right moment in culture.They also reveal what keeps the brand grounded in the customer. Laura is hands-on to the point of answering customer service questions late at night, not for optics, but to solve problems, teach better application, and learn what women actually need. It is the same customer obsession that shows up in hero products like the Best of the Best palette and the brand’s signature baked makeup process, made in Italy on terracotta tiles for a hydrating, never-chalky finish that works especially well on mature skin.The episode closes with a fun Broadway-meets-beauty game (shade name or show tune) plus a reminder that the best brands do not chase every audience. They commit to one woman, understand her deeply, and let everything else follow.

March 11, 202639 min

Episode 304 - Jeffrey Lee & Katherine Rose - Vision Meets Operations: The Power Duo Behind DIBS Beauty

Episode 304 of Where Brains Meet Beauty continues the Power Duos series with Jeffrey Lee, CEO & Co-Founder of DIBS Beauty and Katherine Rose, Vice President of Finance. Together they unpack what it really takes to scale a beauty brand through high-stakes moments - ERP overhauls, warehouse moves, tariff chaos, and rapid retail expansion.Katherine shares how a career that started in public accounting evolved into operational leadership at a fast-growing startup, guided by a simple rule: say yes to opportunities and figure it out along the way. Jeffrey reflects on his unconventional path from corporate attorney to entrepreneur, and why great founders succeed by building strong processes and empowering people with deeper expertise than their own.The episode also goes inside DIBS’ retail mindset. Jeffrey shares his mission to show up in Ulta doors across all 50 states, not as a checkbox, but to learn how the customer shops and to stand beside the field team doing the hard work in-store. Katherine shares what she has learned in the field too, including a new respect for the retail ecosystem and the reality that “it’s not in the back” is usually true. Their shared takeaway: retail success is built by the teams who show up, take notes, and stay close to the customer.And yes, there are fun surprises too, including Jeffrey’s Miss Universe coaching background and his belief that posture is the ultimate confidence signal. The episode closes with a game built for this duo: Ulta locations across the country paired with activities, plus a Cheesecake Factory order that is nothing short of legendary.

Is this your show?

Claim this listing to keep it up to date, reach guests who want to pitch you, and manage bookings with Guestify.

Claim this listing

More Business podcasts

One moment, please...

BusinessInvesting

One moment, please...

Business

Swallow Your Pride Podcast

BusinessCareersInterviews guests

One moment, please...

Business

One moment, please...

Business
MACRA

MACRA

MACRA Website

Business