WorkParty

Hosted by Jaclyn Johnson, Marina Middleton

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362

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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About the show

Meet your new Work Wives. WorkParty, the beloved business podcast with over 3 million downloads to date and guests like Sara Blakely, Tyra Banks, Jen Atkin and more is back and brand new. Jaclyn Johnson joined by CEO of Create & Cultivate, Marina Middleton are letting you listen in as they navigate the world of entrepreneurship, motherhood, divorce, female friendships and how they make it all work – mostly. A little work, a little party, pour yourself a glass of champagne and pull up, cause we are about to get down to business.

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60 recent

September 9, 202622 min

Isle of Monday Founders on Building a 30K Waitlist, Landing in Vogue & the $47B Market

The secondhand fashion market is worth $47 billion and growing three times faster than traditional retail — and Gabriella Curatola and Janelle Gray-Gilbert are building the company that's going to define it. As co-founders of Isle of Monday, the first rental platform for luxury vintage, they launched in December with 200 styles, hit 30,000 on their waitlist before officially launching, landed in Vogue, and did all of it while working 90-hour weeks and self-funding every single piece themselves. In this episode, we cover: • How they built a 30K waitlist before ever officially launching • Why rental is a smarter business model than resale • How they're sourcing pieces once worn by Naomi Campbell and Helena Christensen • What the legacy players like Rent the Runway got right and what Isle of Monday is doing differently • How to make a co-founder relationship actually work when you're together 90 hours a week • Why vintage is far from scarce — and the untapped supply that most people don't know about Tune in to hear how two founders are making the most extraordinary pieces in fashion history accessible to everyone — on their terms, on their timeline, and without ever compromising on what they believed in. To learn more about Isle of Monday: https://www.instagram.com/isleofmonday www.isleofmonday.com Join Us for 2026 World’s Largest Festival for Women in Business here: https://www.createcultivate.com/festival Get 15% off your Create & Cultivate Festival Tickets with code WORKPARTY15 To follow along with Create & Cultivate : https://www.instagram.com/createcultivate www.createcultivate.com To connect with Jaclyn Johnson : https://www.instagram.com/jaclynrjohnson To connect with Marina Middleton : https://www.instagram.com/marinaamiddleton

September 2, 202628 min

Ali Kriegsman on Selling Her Startup, Helping Founders Raise $20M & the Fundraising Secrets Nobody Talks About

She sold her startup to the biggest B2B events company in the United States, spent a year in a post-exit identity crisis, built a consulting practice that helped founders raise a collective $20 million in venture funding, wrote two books, launched one of the most talked-about Substacks at the intersection of business, gender, and culture, and published a debut psychological thriller that landed on Reese Witherspoon's book club podcast with zero outbound PR. Ali Kriegsman has been busy — and she came to Work Party to say everything. In this episode, we cover: • What actually happens behind the scenes when you sell your company — and why it's nothing like the Instagram post • Why you aren't pitching the version of the business you're running today when you fundraise • The post-exit identity crisis nobody prepares you for and how to come out the other side • What the Everlane x Shein deal really tells us about the pressure on female founders • Why girl boss culture got some things very right — and one thing very wrong • Why every founder is giving the performance of a lifetime and what that actually costs them Tune in to hear one of the sharpest voices in the founder and culture space — on her terms, on her timeline, and without holding anything back. To learn more about Ali Kriegsman: https://www.instagram.com/alikriegs/ Join Us for 2026 World’s Largest Festival for Women in Business here: https://www.createcultivate.com/festival Get 15% off your Create & Cultivate Festival Tickets with code WORKPARTY15 To follow along with Create & Cultivate : https://www.instagram.com/createcultivate www.createcultivate.com To connect with Jaclyn Johnson : https://www.instagram.com/jaclynrjohnson To connect with Marina Middleton : https://www.instagram.com/marinaamiddleton

August 26, 202636 min

Stop Waiting for Brand Deals: How to Build Real Wealth as a Creator with Nadya Okamoto

She started a nonprofit at 16, built a period care brand from zero to $5 million raised while posting on TikTok, grew to 6 million followers across platforms, and is now stepping into her next chapter as Chief Creator Officer at Cherub — all before most people have figured out what they want to do with their lives. Nadya Okamoto is here to talk about what the creator economy gets completely wrong about building wealth, why brand deals alone will never get you there, and what to do instead. In this episode, we cover: • Why brand deals are a volatile income strategy and what creators should be building instead • How Nadya went from zero to a million followers in two months by posting 100 times a day • What angel investing actually is and why every creator with a following should know about it • Why stepping away from your own company might be the smartest thing you ever do for it • How to think about diversifying your income as a creator before the algorithm changes everything • Why the creator economy is at an inflection point — and what that means for anyone building online right now Tune in to hear how one of the most prolific creators of her generation is thinking about money, ownership, and what it really means to build something that lasts. To learn more about Nadya Okamoto: https://www.instagram.com/nadyaokamoto Join Us for 2026 World’s Largest Festival for Women in Business here: https://www.createcultivate.com/festival Get 15% off your Create & Cultivate Festival Tickets with code WORKPARTY15 To follow along with Create & Cultivate : https://www.instagram.com/createcultivate www.createcultivate.com To connect with Jaclyn Johnson : https://www.instagram.com/jaclynrjohnson To connect with Marina Middleton : https://www.instagram.com/marinaamiddleton

August 19, 202613 min

The C&C 100 All Stars on Starting Over, Ditching Perfection & Being the Villain in Someone Else's Story

We sat down with our C&C 100 All Stars — Allison Ellsworth, Keltie Knight, Chriselle Lim, Gregg Renfrew, and Alli Webb — to talk about what it really looks like to start over after you've already made it. From selling a company to Pepsi for nearly $2 billion to ditching the scarcity mindset to learning to be okay with being the villain in someone else's story, these women are proving that the second act is just as exciting as the first. In this episode, we cover: • Why purpose is more powerful than money • What you have to let go of to build something new without carrying the baggage with you • Why being the villain in someone else's story might actually be your superpower • How to ditch perfection and embrace the messiness of figuring out what's next • Why fun is the number one way to avoid burnout • What two-time C&C 100 honorees know now that they wish they'd known then Tune in to hear from some of the most seasoned and exciting voices in business right now — on their terms, on their timeline, and without ever compromising on what they believe in. Check out the full C&C 100 List here: https://www.createcultivate.com/cc100 Join Us for 2026 World’s Largest Festival for Women in Business here: https://www.createcultivate.com/festival Get 15% off your Create & Cultivate Festival Tickets with code WORKPARTY15 To follow along with Create & Cultivate : https://www.instagram.com/createcultivate www.createcultivate.com To connect with Jaclyn Johnson : https://www.instagram.com/jaclynrjohnson To connect with Marina Middleton : https://www.instagram.com/marinaamiddleton

August 12, 202620 min

C&C 100 Rising Stars: Money Moves, Multiple Income Streams & Why Your Personal Brand Can't Wait

We sat down with our C&C 100 Rising Stars — Les Alfred, Dr. Chrystle Cu, Aliett Buttelman & Nina LaBruna of Fazit, Sammi Cohen, Tricia Lee, Camille Moore, and Kristina Subbotina — to talk about the money moves that matter, why your personal brand can't wait, and what actually keeps you going when you want to quit. These women are proof that the gap between where you are and where you want to be is smaller than you think. In this episode, we cover: • The money moves these founders are making right now to ensure longevity • Why diversifying your income stream is no longer optional • How to know when you're onto something • Why your personal brand is the most important investment you can make right now • What it really takes to go viral and sustain it after the moment passes • Why the urgency to start building your brand has never been more serious Tune in to hear from some of the most exciting rising stars in business right now — on their terms, on their timeline, and without ever compromising on what they believe in. Check out the full C&C 100 List here: https://www.createcultivate.com/cc100 Join Us for 2026 World’s Largest Festival for Women in Business here: https://www.createcultivate.com/festival Get 15% off your Create & Cultivate Festival Tickets with code WORKPARTY15 To follow along with Create & Cultivate : https://www.instagram.com/createcultivate www.createcultivate.com To connect with Jaclyn Johnson : https://www.instagram.com/jaclynrjohnson To connect with Marina Middleton : https://www.instagram.com/marinaamiddleton

August 5, 202610 min

C&C 100 Tech Honorees on Building in the Age of Claude & What It Really Takes to Win in Tech

We sat down with our C&C 100 Tech Honorees — Brittany Avery, Tezza Barton, Catherine Goetze, Lucy Guo, Sheila Lirio Marcelo, and Mady Maio & Lauren Wolfen of Camber — to talk about what it really takes to build, lead, and win in tech right now. From fundraising rejections that ended up being the best thing that ever happened to them to the AI prompts they swear by, these women are proof that the future belongs to the founders who embrace the wave instead of chasing behind it. In this episode, we cover: • The AI prompts these founders actually use every single day • Why every no from an investor might be the best thing that ever happens to you • How to build a company that stays ahead of the tech wave instead of catching up to it • What it really takes to go from idea to product in the age of AI • Why the people who believe in you early change everything • How to stay authentically bold when the tech world is moving faster than ever Tune in to hear from some of the most exciting voices in tech right now — on their terms, on their timeline, and without ever compromising on what they believe in. Check out the full C&C 100 List here: https://www.createcultivate.com/cc100 Join Us for 2026 World’s Largest Festival for Women in Business here: https://www.createcultivate.com/festival Get 15% off your Create & Cultivate Festival Tickets with code WORKPARTY15 To follow along with Create & Cultivate : https://www.instagram.com/createcultivate www.createcultivate.com To connect with Jaclyn Johnson : https://www.instagram.com/jaclynrjohnson To connect with Marina Middleton : https://www.instagram.com/marinaamiddleton

July 29, 202612 min

The C&C 100 Content Creator Honorees on How to Go Viral, Find Your Voice & the One Thing Every Creator Gets Wrong

We sat down with our C&C 100 Content Creator Honorees — India de Beaufort, Averi Camille, Robyn Delmonte, Shayla Mitchell, Nadya Okamoto, and Victoria Paris — to talk about what it really takes to build an audience, find your voice, and stay creative in a world that never stops scrolling. From going viral to getting out of creative ruts, these women are proof that the only strategy that actually works is being unapologetically yourself. In this episode, we cover: - Why you can't find your niche — you have to become it - How to get out of a creative rut when the inspiration just isn't coming - Why authenticity is still the only thing that makes an audience actually stick - How much of going viral is luck — and what you can actually control - The tech stacks and tools these creators swear by - Why consistency will always beat uniqueness when it comes to building online Tune in to hear from some of the most exciting voices in content creation right now — on their terms, on their timeline, and without ever compromising on what they believe in. Check out the full C&C 100 List here: https://www.createcultivate.com/cc100 Join Us for 2026 World’s Largest Festival for Women in Business here: https://www.createcultivate.com/festival Get 15% off your Create & Cultivate Festival Tickets with code WORKPARTY15 To follow along with Create & Cultivate : https://www.instagram.com/createcultivate www.createcultivate.com To connect with Jaclyn Johnson : https://www.instagram.com/jaclynrjohnson To connect with Marina Middleton : https://www.instagram.com/marinaamiddleton

July 22, 20269 min

The C&C 100 Sports & Wellness Honorees on Juggling It All, Creatine & Why Balance Is Setting You Up to Fail

We sat down with our C&C 100 Sports & Wellness Honorees — Malika Andrews, Louise Hazel, Kayla Jeter, Samantha Miller, and Alex Taylor — to talk about what it really takes to show up, perform, and build in industries that weren't always built for women. From redefining what balance actually looks like to the wellness hacks that changed everything, these women are setting new standards for equity, influence, and opportunity. In this episode, we cover: • Why balance is an illusion — and what to focus on instead • How to identify what you can afford to drop and what you can't • Why rest is not something you earn and how to build it into your life • The wellness hacks that actually changed their lives — including the most studied supplement in the world • How to create more visibility and opportunity for women in your industry • Why doing exceptional work is the most powerful thing you can do for the women coming after you Tune in to hear from some of the most exciting voices in sports and wellness right now — on their terms, on their timeline, and without ever compromising on what they believe in. Check out the full C&C 100 List here: https://www.createcultivate.com/cc100 Join Us for 2026 World’s Largest Festival for Women in Business here: https://www.createcultivate.com/festival Get 15% off your Create & Cultivate Festival Tickets with code WORKPARTY15 To follow along with Create & Cultivate : https://www.instagram.com/createcultivate www.createcultivate.com To connect with Jaclyn Johnson : https://www.instagram.com/jaclynrjohnson To connect with Marina Middleton : https://www.instagram.com/marinaamiddleton

July 15, 202610 min

The C&C 100 Culinary Honorees on Matcha Fatigue, Building Cult Brands & the One Thing Every Food Founder Needs to Know

We sat down with our C&C 100 Culinary Honorees — Kit Keenan, Olivia Lopez, Julianna McIntosh, Becca Millstein and Tini Younger — to talk about what it really takes to build a food brand that stands out, lasts, and actually feels like you. From tinned fish empires to cocktail content that took over the internet, these women are proof that your perspective is your greatest ingredient. In this episode, we cover: • Why market research is the most underrated move in building a food brand • How to find your secret sauce — and why it's rarely about the food itself • What it really takes to keep going when burnout is knocking at the door • Why your team is the most important ingredient in building a great business • How to carve out a space that's completely your own in a saturated market • The food trends they're loving, the ones they're over, and everything in between Tune in to hear from some of the most exciting voices in food right now — on their terms, on their timeline, and without ever compromising on what they believe in. Check out the full C&C 100 List here: https://www.createcultivate.com/cc100 Join Us for 2026 World’s Largest Festival for Women in Business here: https://www.createcultivate.com/festival Get 15% off your Create & Cultivate Festival Tickets with code WORKPARTY15 To follow along with Create & Cultivate : https://www.instagram.com/createcultivate www.createcultivate.com To connect with Jaclyn Johnson : https://www.instagram.com/jaclynrjohnson To connect with Marina Middleton : https://www.instagram.com/marinaamiddleton

July 8, 202613 min

The C&C 100 Entertainment Honorees on the Roles They Didn't Get, Ditching the Scarcity Mindset & Doing Things That Scare You

We sat down with our C&C 100 Entertainment Honorees — Bobbi Althoff, Ariana Madix, Caitlin Reilly, Brittany Snow, and Danielle Robay — to talk about the rejections that stung, the no's that redirected everything, and what it really takes to build a lasting career in Hollywood. These women are proof that the things that don't work out are often the very things that set you forward. In this episode, we cover: • Why the roles and opportunities you don't get are sometimes the best thing that can happen to you • How to ditch the scarcity mindset and start saying no to the things that aren't right for you • What it really means to protect your peace in an industry that never stops demanding more • Why doing things that scare you is the most valuable career move you can make • How to build a support system that believes in you even when you don't believe in yourself • What planting seeds early in your career really looks like — and how to trust the process Tune in to hear from some of the most exciting voices in entertainment right now — on their terms, on their timeline, and without ever compromising on what they believe in. Check out the full C&C 100 List here: https://www.createcultivate.com/cc100 Join Us for 2026 World’s Largest Festival for Women in Business here: https://www.createcultivate.com/festival Get 15% off your Create & Cultivate Festival Tickets with code WORKPARTY15 To follow along with Create & Cultivate : https://www.instagram.com/createcultivate www.createcultivate.com To connect with Jaclyn Johnson : https://www.instagram.com/jaclynrjohnson To connect with Marina Middleton : https://www.instagram.com/marinaamiddleton