Dear FoundHer… is more than a podcast—it’s a movement for women 40+ building businesses on their own terms.
Hosted by award-winning entrepreneur Lindsay Pinchuk, each episode delivers honest conversations, actionable strategies, and no-fluff insights from the most powerful female founders of our time.
From Bobbi Brown to Rebecca Minkoff, Dr. Becky Kennedy to Gail Simmons, these are the real stories behind the success: the lessons, the pivots, and the marketing strategies that actually work.
Because at Dear FoundHer…, there's no fluff. No gatekeeping. Just what works---because we're better together.
Subscribe and join the women rewriting the rules of entrepreneurship.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dear FoundHer… is more than a podcast—it’s a movement for women 40+ building businesses on their own terms.
Hosted by award-winning entrepreneur Lindsay Pinchuk, each episode delivers honest conversations, actionable strategies, and no-fluff insights from the most powerful female founders of our time.
From Bobbi Brown to Rebecca Minkoff, Dr. Becky Kennedy to Gail Simmons, these are the real stories behind the success: the lessons, the pivots, and the marketing strategies that actually work.
Because at Dear FoundHer…, there's no fluff. No gatekeeping. Just what works---because we're better together.
Subscribe and join the women rewriting the rules of entrepreneurship.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Subscribe to The FoundHer Files. Practical advice for your small business. No fluff. No gatekeeping. Just what works...because we're better together. SUBSCRIBE HERE
Fear of being seen keeps many entrepreneurs from stepping into their potential, and imposter syndrome often has less to do with confidence than with how the nervous system reacts to visibility. In this episode, Lindsay Pinchuk talks with therapist and visibility coach Anna Holtzman about what’s really happening beneath the surface when we hesitate to show up. Why does sharing your work online or talking about your business feel so uncomfortable? And how can you train your body to see visibility as safe instead of threatening?
Anna shares how the fear of being seen is often a protective response, not a personal flaw, and how learning to recognize that can shift the way you approach your work. She explains her method of “graded exposure” (taking small, consistent steps toward being visible) as a way to build trust in yourself and lessen the grip of imposter syndrome over time.
This conversation feels like a gentle permission slip for anyone who’s tired of pretending to be confident. You’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of what it means to show up authentically and a few ways to make visibility feel less like a performance and more like self-trust in action.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 The Fear of Visibility
12:03 Navigating Career Transitions
24:07 Overcoming Visibility Challenges
26:52 Building Comfort in Visibility
30:46 The Power of One-on-One Coaching
31:52 Authenticity in Consistency
35:01 Navigating Negative Feedback
39:05 Personalized Coaching Experiences
45:35 Actionable Steps to Increase Visibility
Links:
Register for Anna’s FREE Let Yourself Be Seen Workshop
Check Lindsay out on Anna’s Podcast!
Subscribe to The FoundHer Files
Get Tickets for Dear FoundHer.. on Tour
This Week’s FoundHer Faves:
The Law Office of Erin M. Wilson, LLC
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Subscribe to The FoundHer Files. Practical advice for your small business. No fluff. No gatekeeping. Just what works...because we're better together. SUBSCRIBE HERE
This week, Lindsay Pinchuk breaks down one of the most powerful (and overlooked) marketing tools for small businesses — the Gift Guide.
Whether you sell products, services, or both, a Gift Guide can help you grow your audience, collaborate with other brands, and create buzz that lasts long after the holidays.
Lindsay shares how she used Gift Guides to skyrocket her first company, Bump Club & Beyond, and how her very first Dear FoundHer… Gift Guide landed her a TV segment on WGN and helped launch the brand.
You’ll learn:
And if you want step-by-step help building your own, you can grab Lindsay’s Gift Guide Blueprint inside The FoundHer Files newsletter.
Key Takeaways
Mentioned in This Episode
Connect with Lindsay
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Subscribe to The FoundHer Files. Practical advice for your small business. No fluff. No gatekeeping. Just what works...because we're better together. SUBSCRIBE HERE
What does it take to turn a small idea into a brand that ends up on the racks at Bergdorf Goodman? For Ramy Brook Sharp, it started with a few silk tops, a gap in her own wardrobe, and a belief that women deserved fashion that felt both beautiful and effortless. Lindsay Pinchuk sits down with Ramy to unpack how those early living room trunk shows, personal fabric runs through New York’s Garment District, and countless lessons learned through trial and error shaped what would become the Ramy Brook brand.
Ramy talks about what listening to her customers taught her, like how a simple request for bra-friendly tops completely changed her design philosophy, and how one connection with a personal shopper at Bergdorf Goodman turned into a career-defining moment. She reflects on what it means to start a business later in life and why experience and curiosity can be powerful advantages when building something new.
This episode invites you to think differently about growth, resilience, and what it really means to create something that lasts.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 How Ramy Brook Built a Fashion Brand from Scratch
01:39 The Closet Problem That Sparked an Idea
04:41 Launching Through Trunk Shows and Word-of-Mouth Marketing
06:52 Listening to Customers and Designing for Real Women
09:23 The Bergdorf Goodman Breakthrough
16:55 Starting a Business at 42 and Leveraging Life Experience
24:44 How AI and Innovation Shape the Future of Ramy Brook
32:59 Three Lessons Every Aspiring Founder Should Hear
Connect with Ramy Brook Sharp:
Follow Ramy Brook on Instagram
Follow Lindsay @dearfoundher on Instagram
Interested in leveling up your marketing? Get on the waitlist for Marketing Made Simple for Small Business.
Join the Dear FoundHer... Forum Networking Community
FoundHer Faves:
Juliet Wine:
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Peta Murgatroyd shares how the discipline she built on Dancing With the Stars became the foundation for her second act as a beauty founder. Joining Lindsay Pinchuk in this episode, she opens up about what it really takes to move from the stage to the boardroom and why she refused to stay in one lane.
What happens when passion collides with persistence? For Peta, it meant turning years of frustration with self-tanning products into Peta Jane Beauty, a brand known for clean formulas and professional results. She talks about early missteps, rebuilding from scratch, and figuring out how to run a company while raising three kids.
How do you keep going when self-doubt creeps in? What does it take to lead with both grit and grace? Peta’s journey is an honest look at the growing pains behind real success and a reminder that starting over can be one of the most powerful moves you make.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Peta Murgatroyd’s Founder Story
03:12 From Dancer to Entrepreneur
07:05 The Frustration That Sparked Peta Jane Beauty
09:46 Launching and Rebranding the Business
12:09 Research, Development, and Lessons Learned
17:43 Bringing Peta Jane Beauty to Market
22:12 Balancing Motherhood and Entrepreneurship
29:10 Preparing for Life After Dancing With the Stars
33:33 The Biggest Business Lesson: Inventory and Growth
36:52 Overcoming Self-Doubt and Finding Confidence
40:15 Peta Murgatroyd’s Advice for New Entrepreneurs
Connect with Peta Murgatroyd:
Follow Peta Jane Beauty on Instagram
Follow Peta Jane Beauty on TikTok
Here are the links to this week's FoundHer Faves:
ThirdLove Unlined Minimizer Bra
Emily Schneider, Visual Storyteller
Follow Lindsay @dearfoundher on Instagram
Interested in leveling up your marketing? Get on the waitlist for Marketing Made Simple for Small Business.
Join the Dear FoundHer... Forum Networking Community
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Subscribe to The FoundHer Files. Practical advice for your small business. No fluff. No gatekeeping. Just what works...because we're better together. SUBSCRIBE HERE
Katie Rosen Kitchens didn’t set out to build a subscription box, she set out to build a community. What began as an online magazine with product recommendations grew into FabFitFun, a membership that millions of women see as a quarterly act of self-care.
In this episode with Lindsay Pinchuk, Katie shares how a 24-hour sellout of the very first test box set the stage for everything that followed: full-size products, full customization, members-only sales, and a thriving community where feedback shapes each season. Storytelling still drives it all, making every product feel personal rather than transactional.
She also explains how FabFitFun became a launchpad for brands, using influencers and editorial reach to turn products, like OUAI’s leave-in conditioner, into bestsellers. Flexibility is key—members can swap items or even entire boxes—building trust with every shipment.
Katie doesn’t shy away from the hard parts either, from a million-unit product recall to the operational lessons that came out of it. Today, FabFitFun is expanding its impact with brand investments and 3PL services, proving that listening to your community and evolving with it is the foundation of lasting growth.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Meet Katie Rosen Kitchens Co-Founder of FabFitFun
05:52 FabFitFun’s Origin Story
15:44 Building Community and Listening to Customers
26:55 From Media Company to Membership Model
28:20 Outlasting the Subscription Box Trend
43:11 Final Advice for Female Founders
Connect with Katie Rosen Kitchens:
http://www.instagram.com/katieakitchens
http://www.instagram.com/fabfitfun
Follow Lindsay @dearfoundher on Instagram
Interested in leveling up your marketing? Get on the waitlist for Marketing Made Simple for Small Business.
Join the Dear FoundHer... Forum Networking Community
FoundHers Mentioned today:
October 22 MFactor Screening https://bit.ly/3Id2NoR
Tween Girls Summit https://chicagonorthshoremoms.com/tween-girls-empowerment-summit/
The Small Business Owners HR Vault https://www.wellness-extension.com/sbo-vault
Dear FoundHer on Tour: http://www.dearfoundher.com/tour
Trailblazer Pod https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/trailblazer-pod/id1773328946
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Subscribe to The FoundHer Files. Practical advice for your small business.
No fluff. No gatekeeping. Just what works...because we're better together. SUBSCRIBE HERE
In this episode, Lindsay Pinchuk shares actionable Q4 marketing strategies for small business owners. She emphasizes the importance of gratitude marketing, creating holiday gift guides, running flash sales, repurposing content, and leveraging email for conversions. Lindsay also discusses the significance of pitching for year-end press opportunities, sharing behind-the-scenes content, encouraging user-generated content, and planning for January momentum. The episode is packed with practical tips to help businesses finish the year strong and set the stage for the new year.
Follow Lindsay @dearfoundher on Instagram.
Interested in leveling up your marketing? Get on the waitlist for Marketing Made Simple for Small Business.
Join the Dear FoundHer... Forum Networking Community
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Get actionable strategies for your business delivered weekly to your inbox. Subscribe to The FoundHer Files. No fluff. No gatekeeping. Just what works...because we're better together. SUBSCRIBE HERE
In this episode, Lindsay Pinchuk shares her journey of building Bump Club and Beyond from scratch without a marketing budget. She emphasizes the importance of creating a marketing system out of necessity, which eventually became the foundation for her success. Lindsay introduces her marketing framework, SWEEP, which stands for Social media, Website, Email, Events, and Publicity/Partnerships. She discusses the significance of each component and provides actionable steps for entrepreneurs to implement in their businesses. The episode highlights the power of consistency, community building, and the importance of nurturing relationships through effective marketing strategies.
00:00 Building a Business from Scratch
02:53 The Importance of a Marketing System
06:06 Introducing the Sweep Framework
08:56 Social Media: Building Awareness
11:50 The Role of Your Website
14:59 Harnessing the Power of Email Marketing
18:07 Events as Community Builders
20:56 Publicity and Partnerships for Growth
23:51 The Power of Consistency in Marketing
27:11 Action Steps for Immediate Impact
Check out today’s female founded brands:
Jessica’s Natural Granola: Use the code LINDSAYP15, first time customers save 15%.
Seed Health Daily Synbiotic: Use the code FOUNDHER for 25% off your first month at seed.com. Can be used on DS-01®, PDS-08®, VS-01™. No expiration date
Zodiac Medallion Necklace by Melinda Maria
Tween Girls Summit in Chicago on October 18th: FOR MORE INFORMATION
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Get actionable strategies for your business delivered weekly to your inbox. Subscribe to The FoundHer Files. No fluff. No gatekeeping. Just what works...because we're better together. SUBSCRIBE HERE
From Starbucks tables to Taylor Swift’s spotlight to Nordstrom shelves, Melinda Maria Spigel has built a jewelry empire on vision, grit, and fearless self-advocacy. Joining Lindsay Pinchuk in this episode, Melinda shares how she turned handmade pieces into a multimillion-dollar brand by trusting her instincts, funding growth in unconventional ways, and pushing past rejection until doors opened. Melinda reflects on the viral moment Taylor Swift wore her “Julian Loves Diamonds” necklace during the Eras Tour, why persistence mattered more than luck when Nordstrom finally took a chance on her, and how a relentless belief in her product carried her through every stage of growth. Her story leaves entrepreneurs with three powerful reminders: keep betting on yourself even when no one else does, treat rejection as a doorway instead of a wall, and understand your numbers as deeply as you understand your craft.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Believing in Yourself and Your Business
05:07 Early Passion for Jewelry
08:07 Selling Jewelry at Starbucks
10:09 Winning Game Shows for Seed Money
16:37 Self-Advocating and Building Connections
27:08 Persistence Pays Off with Nordstrom
39:32 Melinda’s Actionable Advice for Entrepreneurs
Connect with Melinda Maria Spigel:
Follow Melinda Maria on Instagram
Register for our FREE Sweep Workshop: The No Fluff Marketing Framework for Small Business Owners.
Get on the waitlist for Marketing Made Simple for Small Business.
Check out today’s female founded brands
Follow Dear FoundHer on Instagram
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Get actionable strategies for your business delivered weekly to your inbox. Subscribe to The FoundHer Files. No fluff. No gatekeeping. Just what works...because we're better together. SUBSCRIBE HERE
Ara Katz never set out to build a probiotic company, yet a deeply personal turning point led her back to her passion for science and ultimately to the creation of Seed. In this episode, Lindsay Pinchuk talks with Ara about how her path through film, tech, and entrepreneurship came full circle when she discovered the potential of the microbiome and its deep connection to gut health, immunity, skin, and overall wellness.
Ara shares how Seed developed its science-first approach to gut health, why customer experience is inseparable from scientific credibility, and how design and storytelling can make complex research feel human. She also reflects on the hardest part of scaling a values-driven company: holding fast to what must remain sacred while still making the compromises that growth demands.
For anyone building something meaningful, Ara leaves behind advice that feels both wise and lived: resist the urge to follow someone else’s recipe, ground your work in love, and hire operational support early so you can stay focused on the work that matters most to you.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Meet Ara Katz and the Story Behind Seed
06:39 A Miscarriage That Changed Everything
12:03 Understanding the Microbiome and Gut Health
20:03 The Science and Innovation Behind DS01
29:20 Why Customer Experience Builds Trust
34:18 Challenges of Scaling with Integrity
41:14 The Future of Gut Health
45:01 Actionable Advice for Female Founders
Connect with Ara Katz:
Register for our FREE Sweep Workshop: The No Fluff Marketing Framework for Small Business Owners
Get on the waitlist for Marketing Made Simple for Small Business
Check out today’s female founded brands:
Suzanne Scheer, J.D., CLTC®, Register for her webinar
Ripley Rader Black Ponte Knit Wide Leg Pant
Follow Dear FoundHer on Instagram
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Get actionable strategies for your business delivered weekly to your inbox. Subscribe to The FoundHer Files. No fluff. No gatekeeping. Just what works...because we're better together. SUBSCRIBE HERE
AI can feel overwhelming when you’re running a small business, yet it also offers a chance to simplify work and open new possibilities. In this episode, Lindsay Pinchuk is joined by Dr. Nici Sweaney, the founder of AI Her Way, to talk about how entrepreneurs can bring AI into their businesses in a way that feels intentional and aligned with their values. Nici shares the turning point that led her from academia to building a seven-figure company around AI and why she believes women need to engage with it now to stay competitive. She explains how to think of AI as a “blank slate intern” that can be trained to support your goals, why ethical use matters, and how keeping human values at the center ensures these tools work for you rather than the other way around.
This conversation invites listeners to see AI not as a shortcut, but as a responsibility and an opportunity to shape the future of work in ways that are inclusive and sustainable. It also asks us to consider both the immediate benefits and the bigger picture: AI is here to stay, and the way we choose to use it now will influence the kind of businesses, communities, and opportunities we create in the years ahead.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 AI for Small Business Success with Dr. Nici Sweaney,
01:57 From Academia to AI Entrepreneurship
06:55 What AI Her Way Offers to Businesses
08:52 Understanding AI vs Generative AI
13:19 Training AI Like a Blank Slate Intern
18:24 Practical Ways Entrepreneurs Can Use AI
22:43 Why Claude Is Dr. Sweeney’s Favorite AI Tool
26:06 Best Practices for Using AI Confidently
30:25 What Ethical AI Really Means
35:12 Inside the AI for Impact Hub
38:15 Building a Seven-Figure Business with AI
41:35 Three Essential Tips for New Founders
44:49 Use AI Ethically
Connect with Dr. Nici Sweaney:
Access a free 14-day trial of Dr. Nici Sweeney’s Gen AI Essentials course: https://pages.aiherway.com.au/14-day-gen-ai-dear-foundher
Dr. Nici’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ai_herway/
Get on the waitlist for Marketing Made Simple for Small Business: https://lindsaypinchuk.myflodesk.com/waitlist
Follow Dear FoundHer on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/dearfoundher
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Get actionable strategies for your business delivered weekly to your inbox. Subscribe to The FoundHer Files. No fluff. No gatekeeping. Just what works...because we're better together. SUBSCRIBE HERE.
In this episode, host Lindsay Pinchuk emphasizes the critical role of community in business, sharing personal experiences and insights on how a strong community can provide support, resilience, and connection. She discusses the importance of authenticity and standing up for one's values, especially in the face of adversity. Lindsay also offers practical steps for building a community that fosters trust and collaboration, ultimately highlighting that community is an essential asset for any entrepreneur.
Female Founded Businesses We Love mentioned in this episode:
ThirdLove Organic Cotton Cloud T-Shirt Bra
perfectwhitetee Ziggy Sweatshirt
Resources + Links:
If you enjoyed this episode:
Please rate, review, and share Dear FoundHer... with another woman business owner who needs to hear this. And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a no-fluff, all-strategy conversation.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Subscribe to The FoundHer Files: No fluff. No gatekeeping. Just what works… because we’re better together.
Heidi Zak took a bra that didn’t fit and turned that frustration into ThirdLove, a DTC brand that challenged an industry dominated by one player and proved that listening to women could transform everything about how a product is made, marketed, and sold.
For Dear FoundHer’s 300th episode, Lindsay Pinchuk talks with Heidi about the decisions and risks that shaped ThirdLove’s growth, from introducing half-cup sizes that the industry said were impossible, to launching the “Try Before You Buy” program that asked women to truly live in the product before deciding if it was right for them. Heidi shares how customer feedback revealed insights far deeper than price or style preferences, and how those insights shaped both the brand’s identity and its ability to earn trust online. She shares about the missteps, the manufacturing roadblocks, and the moments where abandoning an idea saved time and money.
Lindsay and Heidi’s conversation is about building in direct response to the people you serve, scaling in a competitive DTC space without losing sight of product quality, and staying committed to innovation even when the path forward is messy and uncertain.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Introducing Heidi Zak
06:19 Heidi Zak’s Founding Story of ThirdLove
14:01 Launching the First Product Line and Market Strategy
19:35 Creating Half-Cup Sizes and Disrupting the Bra Industry
24:08 Building Trust and Driving Customer Acquisition
32:01 How Customer Feedback Shaped ThirdLove’s Growth
36:17 Lessons Learned from Failed Experiments
38:56 ThirdLove’s Current Status and Future Plans
Connect with Heidi Zak:
Subscribe to The FoundHer Files: No fluff. No gatekeeping. Just what works… because we’re better together.
Join our online networking community, the Dear FoundHer... Forum
Follow Dear FoundHer on Instagram
Don’t forget to follow Lindsay on Instagram
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Get actionable strategies for your business delivered weekly to your inbox. Subscribe to The FoundHer Files. No fluff. No gatekeeping. Just what works...because we're better together. SUBSCRIBE HERE.
In this episode, Lindsay Pinchuk reflects on the journey of her podcast, Dear FoundHer..., as it approaches its 300th episode. She shares the evolution of the podcast into a supportive community for women entrepreneurs over 40, highlighting key lessons learned from her interviews with inspiring female founders. Lindsay emphasizes the importance of trusting one's intuition, staying true to one's mission, and the power of community in building successful businesses. She also offers personal reflections on her growth and the impact of the community on her life.
Female Founded Businesses We Love mentioned in this episode:
Odele Beauty: You can check out Founder, Lindsay Holden on the podcast, and make sure you show them some love.
Shop Chunky: Check them out and show her some love.
Adulting 101 Masterclass: Show her some love here.
Rebecca Minkoff Frankie Mini Woven Tote: You can check out our conversation on the podcast here. Don’t forget to show her some love.
The Write Stop: Show her some love here.
Resources + Links:
If you enjoyed this episode:
Please rate, review, and share Dear FoundHer... with another woman business owner who needs to hear this. And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a no-fluff, all-strategy conversation.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Subscribe to The FoundHer Files for weekly no-fluff business tips for women 40+ building on their own terms.
Erica Groussman went from zero sales and deep debt to getting TRUBAR into Whole Foods, Target, and thousands of stores across North America, all by staying committed to a vision she wasn’t willing to give up on.
In this episode, Lindsay Pinchuk talks with Erica about how a simple desire for a clean, delicious protein bar led to one of the fastest-growing plant-based snack brands on the shelf. Erica shares what those early days really looked like, driving around with samples in the backseat, asking salons and yoga studios to take a chance on her product, and putting marketing expenses on her personal credit card. She also opens up about the moment everything nearly fell apart after bringing in a partner who mismanaged the business, and what it took to take back control and keep going.
Where do you draw the line between persistence and letting go? How do you rebuild when trust is broken and the money has run out? Erica talks through those moments with honesty, alongside the decisions that helped her move forward, building supplier relationships, testing in-store demos, and staying close to the product every step of the way. Her story is a grounded look at what it really takes to grow something from nothing and keep it alive through the hard parts.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Introduction
04:15 How TRUBAR Got Started
08:44 Recovering from Financial Failure
11:08 Breaking Into Whole Foods
14:51 TRUBAR’s Retail Expansion
19:05 From Three People to a National Team
20:40 Scrappy Marketing and Product Trial
24:18 Getting Acquired by a Public Company
27:31 The Long-Term Vision for TRUBAR
33:43 Advice for Aspiring Founders
Connect with Erica Groussman:
http://www.instagram.com/ericatrubar
http://www.instagram.com/trubar.brands
Subscribe to The FoundHer Files: No fluff. No gatekeeping. Just what works… because we’re better together.
Join our online networking community, the Dear FoundHer... Forum:
https://www.dearfoundher.com/dear-foundher-forum
Follow Dear FoundHer on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/dearfoundher
Don't forget to follow Lindsay on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindsaypinchuk
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Lindsay Pinchuk is re-launching her newsletter, The FoundHer Files on Substack! No fluff. No gatekeeping. Just what works… because we’re better together. Make sure you subscribe for simple business and marketing tips designed for actual growth. SUBSCRIBE HERE.
Two former Lululemon insiders took a conversation in a Vancouver hot tub and turned it into a multi-million dollar DTC swimwear brand built on real product expertise, trust in their partnership, and a clear vision of what women actually need in a swimsuit.
In this episode, Lindsay Pinchuk talks with Laura Low Ah Kee and Shannon Savage, the co-founders of Left On Friday, about how they pulled from over a decade of product experience at Lululemon to rethink what swimwear could be. Why were there still no suits that worked for movement and looked good too? What would happen if they applied everything they knew about fit, fabric, and function to a category that had barely evolved? That spark of an idea eventually became a focused product line, a growing team, and a brand that’s now seen on Olympic athletes and Gwyneth Paltrow alike.
Laura and Shannon share what it looked like to build their DTC business from the ground up using their own money, the value of starting small and negotiating smart, and how they’ve stayed committed to growth that’s intentional and sustainable. You’ll hear how they used their own networks, leaned on past experience, and figured out what to outsource along the way. They didn’t just chase hype. They built something they wanted to last.
If you’ve ever wondered how to turn deep experience into a brand with staying power, or how to balance vision with execution, this is the kind of conversation that makes you stop and think. What would you build if you fully trusted what you already know?
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Meet the Founders of Left On Friday
03:22 The Hot Tub Conversation That Sparked a Brand
07:48 From Lululemon to DTC: Using Experience to Fill a Market Gap
15:15 Bootstrapping with $150K and Building for Longevity
22:24 Profitability, Growth, and Staying Power in DTC
33:35 Advice for Female Founders Ready to Start
Connect with Laura Low Ah Kee & Shannon Savage:
https://www.instagram.com/lowaks/
https://www.instagram.com/shansavage/
https://www.instagram.com/leftonfriday/
Subscribe to The FoundHer Files: No fluff. No gatekeeping. Just what works… because we’re better together.
Join our online networking community, the Dear FoundHer... Forum:
https://www.dearfoundher.com/dear-foundher-forum
Follow Dear FoundHer on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/dearfoundher
Don't forget to follow Lindsay on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindsaypinchuk
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Lindsay Pinchuk is re-launching her newsletter, The FoundHer Files on Substack! No fluff. No gatekeeping. Just what works...because we're better together. Make sure you subscribe for simple business and marketign tips designed for actual growth. SUBSCRIBE HERE.
We're rerunning this episode as Katie Sturino's debut novel, "Sunny Side Up". hits bookshelves adn the best-sellers list nationwide. Host, Lindsay Pinchuk shares that this is one of her favorite episodes of the podcast, and as she's currently on vacation, she chose to share this in celebration of Katie's big news.
In this episode, Katie opens up about the transition from working in public relations to becoming an entrepreneur, taking Megababe from her parents’ garage to major retailers like Walmart. She talks about the importance of authenticity, community, and staying true to her mission of body positivity and empowering people of all shapes and sizes. Katie also shares insights into her strategic marketing efforts and how her viral series, #SupersizeTheLook, has strengthened her influence in the body acceptance movement.
As Katie shares practical advice for founders, she also stresses the value of hiring the right team and testing your ideas before going all in. What does it really take to push through when things don’t happen overnight? Katie’s story reminds us that persistence and finding the right audience are key.
Connect with Katie Sturino:
https://www.tiktok.com/@katiesturino?lang=en
http://www.instagram.com/katiesturino
http://www.instagram.com/megababe
https://lindsaypinchuk.myflodesk.com/foundherfridays
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER, The FoundHer Files on Substack and check out today's edition on repurposing your content.
Make sure you follow Dear FoundHer... on Instagram
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Do you want more simple marketing strategies? Lindsay Pinchuk is re-launching her newsletter, FoundHer Files, this week on Substack! No fluff. No gatekeeping. Just what works...because we're better together. SUBSCRIBE HERE.
Episode Summary:
In this episode, Lindsay Pinchuk pulls back the curtain on how she built her first company, Bump Club and Beyond, from a $500 personal investment into a 7-figure, nationally recognized brand — without a marketing budget, a big team, or going viral.
Lindsay shares the scrappy, strategic, and community-first approach that led to 3 million monthly impressions, six-figure brand partnerships, and eventually, a successful acquisition. If you're a woman over 40 starting or scaling a business and wondering if it's too late or too costly — this is your permission slip to build it your way.
Whether you're just starting out or looking to grow smarter, you'll walk away with real, actionable takeaways that don't require ad spend or hype — just intention, connection, and consistency.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Resources + Links:
If you enjoyed this episode:
Please rate, review, and share Dear FoundHer... with another woman business owner who needs to hear this. And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a no-fluff, all-strategy conversation.
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If you're a woman business owner over 40, join the Dear FoundHer... Forum to find support, advice, resources and mentorship—JUST FOR YOU. It’s all inside, without the gatekeeping and without the overwhelm.
Ashley Thompson transformed cold oatmeal into a powerhouse brand sold in over 12,000 retail locations, scaling MUSH from a farmers market stall to a national favorite with the help of a pivotal Shark Tank deal. Joining Lindsay Pinchuk in this episode, the MUSH founder shares how she left a fast-track finance career at Goldman Sachs at 24 to build a mission-driven business from the ground up, without a business plan, outside funding, or prior food experience.
Ashley recounts the early hustle of handmaking oats in her kitchen, demoing at local shops, and delivering products herself, all while using direct customer feedback to refine the brand. She explains how MUSH landed on Whole Foods shelves, survived a Shark Tank-fueled surge that nearly shut down the business, and ultimately scaled through smart automation and a disciplined, capital-efficient approach.
This episode shows what shaped Ashley’s choices as MUSH grew, from holding off on new products for years to building a team that could support large-scale growth across Target, Costco, and Kroger. She explains what helped her stay focused, how she made decisions with limited resources, and what she’s still learning about leading a brand at scale. If you’re building something from the ground up, there’s a lot here to sit with… and you won’t want to miss it!
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 From Farmers Markets to 12,000 Retail Locations
04:20 Quitting Goldman Sachs to Build MUSH from Scratch
14:45 Getting into Whole Foods and Landing a 10-Store Trial
19:25 Shark Tank Deal with Mark Cuban and Sudden Growth
24:35 Surviving the Post-Shark Tank Chaos
29:25 Why MUSH Focused on Retail Over DTC
34:05 Launching Protein Bars and Expanding the Product Line
39:00 Marketing Strategy Behind a National Health Brand
Connect with Ashley Thompson:
https://www.instagram.com/mush
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Do you want more simple marketing strategies? Lindsay Pinchuk is re-launching her newsletter, FoundHer Files, this week on Substack! No fluff. No gatekeeping. Just what works...because we're better together. SUBSCRIBE HERE.
The year 2025 is officially HALF OVER. BUT, there is still a lot of runway left in front of us. In this episode, Lindsay Pinchuk shares 20 practical strategies for entrepreneurs to effectively achieve their business goals by the end of 2025. The conversation emphasizes the importance of reflection, planning, and taking actionable steps to ensure a successful finish to the year. Key strategies include checking in on goals, automating tasks, enhancing marketing efforts, and prioritizing personal well-being.
Everyone listening can do every single one of these strategies---none of them are complicated. Take a listen and then try to implement one or two per week for the rest of the summer.
Join the Dear FoundHer Forum to build and grow your business alongside other women entrepreneurs 40+, just like you: https://www.dearfoundher.com/dear-foundher-forum
Don't forget to follow Lindsay and Dear FoundHer... on Instagram.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
If you’re a woman business owner over 40, join the Dear FoundHer... Forum to find support, advice, resources and mentorship—JUST FOR YOU. It’s all inside, without the gatekeeping and without the overwhelm.
Jennifer Meyer went from walking into jewelry shops with a sketch in hand to building a fine jewelry brand worn by Jennifer Aniston and sold at Barneys New York. She joins Lindsay to talk through the moments that shaped her twenty-year journey, from saving $7,500 over six months to cold-pitching jewelers and learning everything through trial, error, and curiosity. Jen shares how a last-minute decision to show her pieces to Aniston’s stylist helped launch her brand, and how a quiet meeting at Barneys turned into her first major order. She talks honestly about what it means to build something on your own terms, why she’s never taken outside investment, and how she’s stayed grounded as trends and platforms have changed around her.
You’ll hear Jen reflect on the emotional weight jewelry can carry, the challenges of raising prices in a shifting economy, and what still drives her to keep creating. How do you build a business that can evolve as you do? How do you stay focused when it feels like everyone else is racing ahead? And how do you know when it’s time to celebrate a win? Jen’s story is a reminder that starting small doesn’t mean thinking small. And that consistency and a little bit of nerve can take you further than you think!
Jen is celebrating 20 years of Jennifer Meyer Jewelry this year and is giving YOU an exclusive discount for the next week. You can use the code Foundher15 to save on her website: https://jennifermeyer.com/
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Jennifer Meyer’s Journey from PR to Jewelry Design
10:33 The Breakthrough: Jennifer Aniston and the Barneys Order
14:29 Building a Brand Through Transparency and Hustle
21:20 How Social Media Changed the Game
27:49 Inspiration from Women and Celebrating 20 Years
35:19 Real Advice for Aspiring Female Founders
Connect with Jennifer Meyer:
http://www.instagram.com/jenmeyerjewelry
Get on the Marketing Made Simple Waitlist: https://lindsaypinchuk.myflodesk.com/waitlist
Dear FoundHer Forum: https://www.dearfoundher.com/dear-foundher-forum
Don't forget to follow Lindsay on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindsaypinchuk
Follow Dear FoundHer on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/dearfoundher
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.