WHERE BRAINS MEET BEAUTY

What can make a beauty brand unique is often the founder’s story. There’s a trust and connection that just happens when you know hey - there’s an actual human behind this product! Often times those products are created to address an issue *said* founder has personal experience with, and for this episode’s guest, Francesco Clark, the origins of Clark’s Botanicals targeted exactly that. Except it wasn’t acne or the realization of a market white space that led him to the helm of his company - it was a near-death experience that left him paralyzed 16 years ago. “For me, when my skin stopped sweating after I had my spinal cord injury, everything went wrong with my skin. It looked like I was hyper-aging. It was dry but it was oily. It looked like I was developing rosacea.” So he teamed up with his doctor dad to create a solve, and in the process, made not only something tangible that could help others, but a whole new way to emerge from the traumatic aftermath of of his [email protected]

Kristy Engels doesn’t have a beauty line, and isn’t a retailer, either. As the SVP of Marketing and Brand Strategy at Beauty Strategy Group and Beauty Barrage, she’s the third party you need when you’re the former trying to reach the latter. In other words: A vendor.“A lot of startup brands don’t have big internal teams - everyone they utilize is an outside vendor. I think for them, “vendor” isn’t necessarily a bad word,” says Kristy. “But maybe for those more established, with all of the entrepreneurs and startups nipping at their heels, it is a bit more threatening.”In this episode, Jodi and Kristy explore the interesting dynamic between brands, retailers and their third party partners. Kristy also opens our eyes to the challenges of getting a brand to retail, and costs many don’t expect will crop up once they get there.#wherebrainsmeetbeauty@wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcastwherebrainsmeetbeauty.com

If you’re a fan of sheet masks, you have this week’s guest to thank. Charlotte Cho, founder of Soko Glam, was your typical SoCal girl—tanned skin, beachy hair and a no-fuss beauty routine—until she moved to Korea. It was there she discovered the highly detailed, skin-first Korean approach to beauty that, unlike America at the time, it was incredibly accessible, affordable and fun. In this episode, hear how a side-hustle bringing Korean skincare to the States snowballed into one of the biggest trends of the last decade: K-Beauty. #wherebrainsmeetbeauty@wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcastwherebrainsmeetbeauty.com

When Daniela Ciocan, Marketing Director at CosmoProf NA, scored her first internship at a huge legacy brand, she was surprised to learn corporate life wasn’t for her. “I’m very much driven by novelty and doing something new and different, and I realized working for such a large company, I wouldn’t have that opportunity,” she observes. That anonymous, cog-in-a-wheel feeling was an important a-ha moment at the start of her career, and it’s one that’s stayed with her since. “Really try and uplift and listen to the young, entry-level individuals. Engage them. Be open. Try things.”In this episode, hear her fascinating backstory, one that starts in communist-era Romania and leads to a dynamic role in America’s top B2B beauty trade show. She also dispenses some key marketing advice for indie and legacy brands alike that you won’t want to miss.#wherebrainsmeetbeauty@wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcastwherebrainsmeetbeauty.com

This week Jodi talks to Nannette de Gaspé Beaubien, founder of skincare line Nannette de Gaspé. She pioneered the dry mask, which, despite its $100+ price tag, became an instant cult favorite. Though she’s brainy, beautiful and brimming with enthusiasm, the last part wasn’t always the case. It’s not like she hated her life, but until her 40s, she was doing what she felt was expected of her. “I lived on the terms of everyone else,” she says. “But what I realized was I wasn’t necessarily doing things in a way that made me happy.” In this episode, hear how a self-described type-A personality learned to let go of expectations and start living life on her terms. Plus, get her predictions on the future of indie beauty and what small brands need to thrive.#wherebrainsmeetbeauty@wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcastwherebrainsmeetbeauty.com

Not all networking needs to happen at industry events or LinkedIn. Lauren Katz, Senior Creative Strategist at Moroccanoil, found her first job through her cousin’s wife - Jodi Katz. She promptly became Base Beauty’s first employee, and Base Beauty the first step in her beauty career. If you’re a new grad or about to become one, this is an informative episode on how to score that first job, how to use it to get your next one and why there are things you learn at 20 that will still be relevant to your career at 40.#wherebrainsmeetbeauty@wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcastwherebrainsmeetbeauty.com

Marcia Kilgore has held many founder titles: Founder, Bliss Beauty; Fitflops; Soap and Glory. And most recently, Founder, Beauty Pie. With this string of hits behind her, you have to wonder - what’s her secret to success? In this episode, she actually lays it all out by telling us what the meaning of life is for her. Don’t worry - this won’t be 30 minutes of new-agey platitudes. These are real-life tactics from the ultimate entrepreneur that’ll turn your mind upside down.#wherebrainsmeetbeauty@wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcastwherebrainsmeetbeauty.com

Angie Irish was an esthetician unhappy with the efficacy of natural skin care. So she decided to start her own line. But financing this new biz didn’t involve high-powered VCs or even a loan from her family. Instead, she sold her car, her washer/dryer set and “pretty much anything I owned with a motor” - talk about bootstrapping. Five years later, her line OZ Naturals brings in close to 8 figures in yearly sales. Hear why she took the leap and everything that happened after on this week’s episode. #wherebrainsmeetbeauty@wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcastwherebrainsmeetbeauty.com

Erin Williams had her heart set on Broadway, not the beauty industry. But for all her efforts, performing wasn’t panning out, and her day job as a makeup artist was. It eventually lead to the launch of her skincare brand, Erin’s Faces, and the two experiences couldn’t have been more different. “With theater, it was like I was army rolling through the dirt, let’s get this done. With this [Erin’s Faces], I feel like I haven’t willed it . . . I feel like I’m being led on a path.” A path she shares opened up once she got in touch her “why”, the deeper purpose that motivates her. Find out how she got there on this episode.#wherebrainsmeetbeauty@wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcastwherebrainsmeetbeauty.com

Laura Gerchik, General Manager of Biologique Recherche, explains why the company doesn’t jump on every new marketing trend or churn out an endless parade of new products. Steady in their approach, confident in their product, she thinks “What we need to think about is that consumers are so much more educated today.” The same could be said about her life - she came to the studio with notes on hand. So consider this episode an argument for knowing when you’ve got a good thing going - and when to just stick with it.#wherebrainsmeetbeauty@wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcastwherebrainsmeetbeauty.com

An entrepreneur since the age of 10, Stacey Levine has been working with family one way or another for decades. The former retailer and current co-founder of Glo Science smile brightening tools shares how she’s navigated the professional with the familial, from her mother, husband and two adult sons. She also offers candid advice on how to dissolve and gracefully move past business partnerships when they’re just not working anymore - a must listen whether you’re working for Mom or working for The Man.#wherebrainsmeetbeauty@wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcastwherebrainsmeetbeauty.com

Call him a 21st century renaissance man: Laszlo Moharita, Global Director of Beauty Products at Johnson & Johnson, describes himself as a “squared up engineer who also likes to paint.” This yin-yang quality is more likely than not how he’s found himself in charge of creating everyday objects so well designed, we all take them for granted. Lotion pumps, dental floss, perfume bottles - Laszlo is the brain behind the most minute details of these items, from how much lotion comes out of the bottle to which way the box opens. If you’ve ever wondered exactly how the products in your bathroom get made, this episode will reveal the surprising process behind it all.#wherebrainsmeetbeauty@wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcastwherebrainsmeetbeauty.com

As a former management consultant and now CEO of personal care device brand FOREO, Paul Peros, like many Gen X’ers, spent the early part of his career working long hours. Like most of his peers, working late equated to working harder. “Unfortunately for us, I think we’ve been a part of the culture of all-nighters and things like that,” he observed.Fast forward to 2018, where he now heads a company made up of employees mostly under 30 - and they’ve changed his perspective on what constitutes hard work. “I see in Gen Z a selectiveness, a pragmatic approach to work and life that I wish we had back in the days ourselves.” As in no more all-night work binges. Hear what he’s learned from his junior staff in this [email protected]/podcast

As a model and YouTuber with over 1 million subscribers, it would seem Cassandra Bankson leads a charmed life. But just a few short years ago, she was the scourge of her peers, mercilessly bullied for extreme cystic acne that covered 90% of her face and upper body. Years were spent enduring stares and taunts of Worthless! Disease! Filthy! Outside of school, her afternoons were spent cycling through endless doctors appointments and medications in what would prove to be a futile attempt at a cure. Acne ruled her life, until she listened to her gut - literally - and revealed her most vulnerable self to the world. Hear how she survived the bullies, healed her skin and created one of YouTube’s most watched channels. basebeauty.com/podcast@wherebarainsmeetbeautypodcast

“Networking”. It’s a word that can conjure up ideas of aggressive, winner-take-all, shameless self-promotion, yet it’s supposed to be the most effective way to find new work and useful connections. In this episode, guest Caroline Fabrigas, CEO of Scent Marketing and Co-CEO of Scent Invent, offers up a new definition of networking, one she says is more about “Putting out a hand instead of taking one.” Plus, she shares her tips on where to draw the line between work and family when you work with your spouse - at home, to boot.*We’re happy to share this episode has been sponsored by BabbleBoxx, the leader in influencer marketing services. BabbleBoxx creates a competition free, theme based sampling program, that places your products in the hands of social media influencers, who are guaranteedto post, Pin, Snap, Tweet and share your [email protected]/podcast

Margarita Arriagada was a high-powered retail exec who tried to dial back her career not once, but three times. After four decades of logging serious air miles and being what she calls, “A weekend mom, a weekend wife, a weekend daughter and sister”, she spontaneously called it quits on the corner office. Hear how she knew it was time to step out of the org chart and into new, very different kind of life.@wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcast#wherebrainsmeetbeauty

Like a lot of teenagers, Marisa Vara Arredondo had acne – really bad acne. But unlike a lot of them, she let that experience inform all of her career choices. As the founder and CEO of Phace Bioactive, she’s been laying the foundation for the first pH optimized skincare line since college, but not in the ways you’d think. She never became an aesthetician or dermatologist, and didn’t major in chemistry, either. Instead she went to Stanford, got an MBA, spent 12 years on Wall Street, then finally did what she always wanted to do – give acne sufferers some long-overdue relief.@wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcast#wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcastbasebeauty.com/podcast

This week Jodi sits down with makeup artist (her makeup artist!), Amanda Thesen, who tells us how the career of your dreams may be one you never even thought to have. Hear how she went from stage actor to bartending to a surprise turn as a makeup artist, and how “failing” was a vital part of getting [email protected]/podcast

Never in a million years (his words) did Joseph Quartana picture himself working in fashion or fragrance, but he went on to do both, and to serious acclaim. With no background in fashion, he founded Seven New York, which became one of the most influential retail destinations in the early aughts, stocking designers that would become today’s major names, like Raf Simons, Haider Ackermann, Peter Pilotto. After shuttering that business, he created another hit with Parfums Quartana, an idea that came to him after watching, of all things, Breaking Bad. Could his success be attributed his outlier status? You’d better hear it straight from him. Hint: Make sure you listen all the way to the end of the episode, where he recounts a can’t-make-this-stuff-up tale of experiencing two life-changing moments in a single 24-hour [email protected]/podcast

WHERE BRAINS MEET BEAUTY™ brings the unique, personal stories of our industry's most interesting people to a wide audience. It also shares the stories of the original WHERE BRAINS MEET BEAUTY - the team at Base Beauty Creative Agency.Give a listen to Jodi's episode with Carey Segal. She's an important part of the agency and podcast marketing. She works with us in between dance and acting auditions. Plus she's not our only hyphenated-multi-talented team [email protected]/podcast

Matt Stillman went from TV exec to skincare guru, a pretty big career change by any account. “I've been a full time weirdo my whole life.” he observed. “And sort of followed a winding path to something that looks like a career.” In this episode, he connects the dots between creating hit shows to creating paleo skincare, and how staying true to his “weird” has helped him put it all [email protected]/podcast

As president of Supergoop! Skin and Suncare, Amanda Baldwin learned early on that communication is everything - in business and life. “Nobody knows what you’re thinking,” she said. “So you better just say it straight.” Hear how she’s taken talking - and more importantly listening - to a whole new level in this episode.@wherebrainsmeetbeauty @basebeautycreativeagency basebeauty.com/podcast

Oribe Co-founder Daniel Kaner proves that nice guys do finish first. In this episode, learn how cultivating gratitude and serenity can generate big payouts - at work and at home. basebeauty.com/podcast@wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcast

Janell Hickman is a veteran editor who knows all too well the feeling of digital overwhelm. While her livelihood is creating content, she’s also an expert on staying sane in a world where that content seems infinite.@wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcast@basebeautycreativeagencybasebeauty.com/podcast

70% of startups don’t make it to the 10-year mark, something Elizabeth Scherle knew when she co-founded Influenster, a review platform for products. So when the odds aren’t in your favor, why put up your own money, go into debt and lose sleep doing it? Her answer wasn’t the typical bit about going for your dreams and trusting everything would be okay. What she revealed was a bit more practical.basebeauty.com/podcast@basebeautycreativeagency@wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcast

Jessica Hanson may seem exactly like the “Woman Who Has It All”. At just 40, she’s president of a major beauty conglomerate and a happily married mom of 2 seriously cute kids. But for all that’s been going right, there was a time not long ago where things seemed anything but. Here, she candidly shares her journey to parenthood - one with devastating heartbreaks and losses. But what got her to the other side were the same traits that make her such a great leader today: Tenacity, nimble problem solving and a whole lot of trust in others.@wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcast@basebeautycreativeagencybasebeauty.com

While Gay Timmons’ official title reads “President, Oh, Oh Organics”, one might argue to have it changed to“Organic Beauty Fairy Godmother”. As founder of North America’s only cosmetic ingredient distributor solely dedicated to organic and sustainable ingredients, she’s made the clean beauty dreams of countless brands a tangible reality.@basebeautycreativeagency@wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcastbasebeauty.com

As a long time spa director, Jeannie Jarnot was no stranger to bathroom overwhelm. You know, that anxious feeling that happens when your bathroom has too many beauty products? So she decided to take matters in her own hands with Beauty Heroes, a healthy beauty subscription service that sends out just one “hero” product a month. Hear how she went from steady paycheck to health-minded entrepreneur.@wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcast@basebeautycreativeagencybasebeauty.com

Doctor dispensed? Aesthetics? Private label? Ewelina Aiossa, AVP of Marketing at L’Oreal’s SkinCeuticals, pulls the curtain back on the world of physician dispensed skincare. Maybe we should’ve named this week’s episode of Where Brains Meet Beauty™ Where Pharma Meets Beauty...@basebeautycreativeagency@wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcastbasebeauty.com

As a beauty writer, Deanna Utroske has a bird’s-eye view on the industry, one that’s even more unique as Editor for trade publication CosmeticsDesign.com. In this episode, find out her biggest surprise upon covering the beauty beat, why she considers the label “misfit” a good thing, and some valuable advice on networking.@basebeautycreativeagency@wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcastbasebeauty.com

For Evelyn Wang, the path to success wasn’t always a straight line. Becoming SVP of Marketing at Wet ‘n’ Wild took a stint analyzing boxed DVD sales, teaching English in Japan and leading teen sailing excursions for a sustainability non-profit. If you’re wondering what the “right” path to your dream job is, this episode has some encouraging insights. (Hint: You’re doing better than you think!). Evelyn and Jodi also dissect the pros and cons of corporate hierarchy and how to give an established brand a facelift without alienating the customers who love it.@basebeautycreativeagency@wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcastbasebeauty.com

Meet Linda Mason. Do you remember a time when models did their own make-up at fashion shows and there were no promotional tie-ins backstage? Linda Mason does, and she seized the opportunity to showcase the power of beauty on the runway. Listen and learn.@basebeautycreativeagency@wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcast basebeauty.com

Meet Tim Quinn. VP Creative Artistry of Armani Beauty at L'Oreal. Listen as he describes how after living out of a suitcase for 16 years as a celebrity makeup artist, it was a Cancer diagnosis that helped him reconfirm his career path. basebeauty.com@wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcast@basebeautycreativeagency

Meet Laurent Saffre. CEO of Pierre Fabre. Listen as this artist, pharmacist and business leader tells us how a career across three countries has been a rewarding adventure for him and his family. Special thanks to the historic C.O. Bigelow Apothecaries for hosting WBMB™'s first-ever on location recordings.basebeauty.com@wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcast@basebeautycreativeagency

Meet Lisa Devo and Shannon Burch. Founders of Soap & Paper. Listen as they share how their initial connection led to over fifteen years of thriving in chaos. Special thanks to the historic C.O. Bigelow Apothecaries for hosting WBMB™'s first-ever on location recordings. basebeauty.com@wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcast@basebeautycreativeagency

Meet Annette Rodriguez. Managing Director at Warburg Pincus. Listen as she walks us through how private equity impacts the beauty industry, and how she preserves balance between her career and personal life. (Note from host Jodi: I wish I knew, 20 years ago, that Annette's job existed. If I had I wouldn't have skipped out on my Intro to Economics class in college!)basebeauty.com@basebeautycreativeagency@wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcast

Meet Tiffany Andersen. CEO and Founder of Tiffany Andersen Brands. Listen as she discusses how after harrowing tragedies she made career and personal choices that not only keep her alive but allow her to thrive.@wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcast@basebeautycreativeagencybasebeauty.com

Meet Jane Park. CEO and Founder of Julep Beauty. Listen as she discusses the gift of time, emotional responses in the workplace, and her vision that beauty can be fun and fearless for all women. @wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcast@basebeautycreativeagencybasebeauty.com

Meet Maggie Ciafardini. She's learned a lot in her wide-reaching career in beauty. Listen as she shares her innovative ideas on how the giant beauty corporations can retain market share in this ever evolving industry.@basebeautycreativeagency@wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcastbasebeauty.com

Meet the Base Beauty Team! This special mini series highlights members of our Base Beauty team. Listen as they discuss their career paths, and how they handle working remotely.@basebeautycreativeagency@wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcastbasebeauty.com

Meet the Base Beauty Team! This special mini series highlights members of our Base Beauty team. Listen as they discuss their career paths, and how they handle working remotely.@basebeautycreativeagency@wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcastbasebeauty.com

What happens when a podcast features another podcast? Things take a turn for the meta this week as host Jodi Katz interviews Jennifer Goldstein (Executive Beauty & Health Editor Marie Claire) and Jessica Matlin (Beauty & Health Director Teen Vogue), hosts of the #1 ranked beauty podcast Fat Mascara. Listen in as they talk day jobs, side hustles and what they’re doing when they’re not doing either of those things.@basebeautycreativeagency@wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcastbasebeauty.com

Meet the Base Beauty Team! This special mini series highlights members of our Base Beauty team. Listen as they discuss their career paths, and how they handle working remotely.

Meet the Base Beauty Team! This special mini series highlights members of our Base Beauty team. Listen as they discuss their career paths, and how they handle working remotely.@basebeautycreativeagency@wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcastbasebeauty.com

Meet the Base Beauty Team! This special mini series highlights members of our Base Beauty team. Listen as they discuss their career paths, and how they handle working remotely.@basebeautycreativeagency@wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcastbasebeauty.com

Meet the Base Beauty Team! This special mini series highlights members of our Base Beauty team. Listen as they discuss their career paths, and how they handle working remotely.@basebeautycreativeagency@wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcastbasebeauty.com

Meet the Base Beauty Team! This special mini series highlights members of our Base Beauty team. Listen as they discuss their career paths, and how they handle working remotely.@basebeautycreativeagency@wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcastbasebeauty.com

Meet the Base Beauty Team! This special mini series highlights members of our Base Beauty team. Listen as they discuss their career paths, and how they handle working remotely.@basebeautycreativeagency@wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcastbasebeauty.com

Meet Danielle Vincent, makeup artist, and founder of Kimiko Beauty. Listen as she talks about growing up as a figure skater, and how to be patient in the process of building a beauty brand. @basebeautycreativeagency@wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcastbasebeauty.com

Meet Angela Kim. Founder of Savor Beauty. Listen as she explains how the Korean beauty rituals she grew up with inspired her work ethic and business growth.@basebeautycreativeagency@wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcastbasebeauty.com