The Growth Show

Luke Milton of Los Angeles’ top fitness center Training Mate knew he needed to act quickly. His three gym locations were ordered to close and his entire staff’s livelihoods hung in the balance of uncertainty. Luke not only moved his gym online within hours, but he brought with it the sense of community that’s won Training Mate so much acclaim. And it's this power of community that’s affirmed his faith in humanity.

Listoke Distillery is a gin and distillation school located just north of Dublin, Ireland. Owner Bronagh Conlon, herself a former healthcare worker and survivor of breast cancer, has a unique perspective on the need to protect essential workers and the general public. Within hours, she converted the company’s gin distillery to produce hand sanitizer. Bronagh talks about how she made that decision and what’s most important for leaders to focus on right now.

Piera Gelardi founded Refinery29 as a catalyst for women to claim their power. And today, she leads a digital media and entertainment empire. Piera talks about the important role her customers play in Refinery29 and 29Rooms, and how being a new mother impacts her creativity.

When Kat Schneider set out to raise funding for her company Ritual, she was four months pregnant. And she was given the choice: Start a company. Or start a family. You cannot do both. Kat talks about the early struggles in securing funding, how the mysteries behind vitamins made her launch the company, and why women’s health is essential to the company’s focus.

Ryan Harms and his Union Wine Company were the toast of Oregon. They’d done something so crazy, they figured it was only a matter of time until the novelty wore off. Ryan and his team were responsible for putting wine in a can. And people went crazy for it. But just as things were going well for Ryan and the business, his personal life was falling apart. Ryan shares the mistakes he made along the way, and offers insight into what other first time founders can do to manage their own work/life balance.

Whether you prefer glamping, treehouses, or the trusty old tent, camping is all about getting outside. But navigating the trail to book public or private camping spots is a hassle. So Alyssa Ravasio founded Hipcamp, an online booking site connecting campers with landowners. Alyssa talks about the strength and confidence she found in camping at a young age and the three questions she needed to answer before deciding whether or not to found Hipcamp.

Uber. Amazon. Airbnb. Today’s top platforms all understand the power of connection. And Geoffrey Parker believes the greatest exchange in value comes from companies that put their customers first. Geoffrey’s latest work, “Platform Revolution: How Networked Markets Are Transforming the Economy and How to Make Them Work for You,” charts out the future of platforms and reveals how they will change the lives and careers of millions.

Let’s be honest. There’s no such thing as a magic pill. But the vitamin industry sure makes it seem like a miracle cure is right there inside every bottle. Akash Shah co-founded Care/of, a subscription vitamin company, to make personalized healthy habits simple and transparent. He talks about how Care/of generates word of mouth marketing and where companies can build more trust with their customers.

There’s a new trend in office design. And its common enemy? The open office floor plan. Phone booths that once littered our sidewalks have been given new life inside our modern offices. Producer Matt Brown joins us to break down why so many companies are answering the call to install private rooms in the office.

You know the drill. Quick brush in the morning, neglect the afternoon floss, and win your week with a second brush a few nights a week. Changing habits is hard, especially when it comes to dental care. Simon Enever founded Quip to fix oral care. He talks about the role of messaging in the early years, how customers are helping influence new products, and the company’s recent foray into selling offline.

Artificial Intelligence. Automation. Bots. Technology has disrupted nearly every aspect of our daily lives. But author Kate O’Neill asks the question, are we steering that technology to create the best future, for the most people? In her latest work “Tech Humanist: How Data and Technology Shape the Future of Meaningful Human Experiences,” Kate explores how we can create more meaningful, intentional, and integrated experiences that better align with businesses and people.

[Mini Episode] Topo Designs president Jedd Rose believes the outdoor apparel design deserves better. And this week, producer Matt Brown helps us unpack how the company designs for urban and outdoor life. Jedd unpacks the company’s design principles and tells us why the best outdoor gear has more to do with memories than fabrics.

Hims founder Andrew Dudum knew that less than 10 percent of men feel comfortable talking about their looks and health with their doctor. But even getting people to the doctor meant conflicting work schedules, travel, and countless more headaches along the way. So Andrew decided to not only destigmatize men’s self-care, but make access to prescriptions, products and medical advice easier and more affordable.

When Ed Razek, the CMO of Victoria’s Secret, made disparaging comments about Heidi Zak’s company ThirdLove, she stood up for herself and all women. Her response? An Open Letter to Victoria’s Secret in The New York Times. We talk with Heidi about the open letter, the aftermath that followed, and share the story of lingeries’ most interesting challenger brand.

For most shoppers, fair trade, organic, non-GMO products means paying a premium. And the amount of choices? Endless. But conscious consumerism doesn't have to equal uninformed decisions and an empty bank account. Brandless, which charges $3 for a variety of products, is changing this equation. Founder Tina Sharkey talks about her mission to democratize access to high-quality goods, redefine what brand means, and scale the Brandless business alongside its community.