Recent Episodes

EP 50: ART CAN CHANGE THE WORLD
June 22, 2022

EP 50: ART CAN CHANGE THE WORLD

This week’s guest is Tyler Tolson, CEO and Founder of Denik , a designer notebook and lifestyle product company that uses a portion of its funds to build schools and support artists. He started the company in 2011 as a …

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EP 49: BIGGER IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER!
June 15, 2022

EP 49: BIGGER IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER!

Born and raised in 29 Palms and having always dreamt of creating a unique place for other locals to grab a last minute outfit or gift without stressing on breaking the bank or making the inconvenient drive out of town, …

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EP 48: RETAIL ISN'T FOR EVERYBODY
June 8, 2022

EP 48: RETAIL ISN'T FOR EVERYBODY

This week we welcome Sean Jimenez / Director of Sales & Marketing for Socksmith. Sean, a former retailer, now turned wholesaler, who’s been in the industry for over 25 years. He now manages 40+ sales reps for a great, multi …

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EP 47: SUPPORTING OTHERS THROUGH JOB CREATION
June 1, 2022

EP 47: SUPPORTING OTHERS THROUGH JOB CREATION

After living in Haiti for five years, Tara moved to Minnesota. When she left Haiti she wanted to make sure she stayed connected to the country and bring the beauty she saw there to the world, thus Cedar and Cypress …

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EP 46: GRASPING THE BRASS RING
May 25, 2022

EP 46: GRASPING THE BRASS RING

Dallas Market Center is the most complete wholesale trade resource in the world. Products include home, gift, lighting, apparel & accessories, and more. We are so excited to have Cole Daugherty, SVP, Exhibitor Marketing for t...

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EP 45: CONNECTING PEOPLE, FAMILY & COMMUNITY THROUGH FOOD
May 18, 2022

EP 45: CONNECTING PEOPLE, FAMILY & COMMUNITY THROUGH FOOD

This week’s guest, Yunnie Morena Kim, Digital Food Content Creator Restaurateur for KimChiAvocado is a lover of food (making it, eating it, sharing it), daughter of Korean immigrants, a wife and mother of two sons, who grew u...

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EP 44: UNITEDOTHER. A COMING TOGETHER, A CONNECTION, A UNION.
May 11, 2022

EP 44: UNITEDOTHER. A COMING TOGETHER, A CONNECTION, A UNION.

This week’s guest is Ellen Nguyen, founder/creator of the UnitedOther — a spiritual goods company based in Los Angeles. Coming to America from Vietnam with very little money, Ellen was taught to be self made and to create fin...

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EP 43: SAVING ONE AT A TIME!
May 4, 2022

EP 43: SAVING ONE AT A TIME!

In honor of May being National Pet Foster Care Month, this week’s guest is Gwenn Vallone, CEO of Pug Nation Rescue of Los Angeles , a non-profit dedicated to the rescue, care and placement of abandoned, neglected, unwanted an...

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EP 42: FABIAN NAVEJAS & MELISSA HESSE – LIFE AFTER Z GALLERIE
April 27, 2022

EP 42: FABIAN NAVEJAS & MELISSA HESSE – LIFE AFTER Z GALLERIE

This week’s episode is part of our Life After Z Gallerie series. Michelle worked closely with both Fabian & Melissa during her time at Z Gallerie. Fabian was born and raised in LA, is a self-taught creative leader and a …

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EP 41: MISSY LIVINGSTON FOUNDER/CEO TWISTED WARES - PUTTING THE FUN IN FUNCTIONAL!
April 20, 2022

EP 41: MISSY LIVINGSTON FOUNDER/CEO TWISTED WARES - PUTTING THE FUN I…

When Missy lost everything in the 2008 recession, she almost lost all hope. She was broke, had 3 kids, and had just moved again. One day, her youngest was running through the kitchen and playfully yanked on the dish towel …

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EP 40: ALLISON CARTER / CEO - CELEBRATES!
April 13, 2022

EP 40: ALLISON CARTER / CEO - CELEBRATES!

This week’s guest is Allison Carter. Allison is a Seattle mom of two and believes that every occasion, big or small, deserves to be celebrated. As the founder and CEO of Allison Carter Celebrates , she helps make busy moms’ …

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EP 39: HUSTLER OF THE WEEK!
April 6, 2022

EP 39: HUSTLER OF THE WEEK!

This week's guest is CEO & founder of Swanky D's, Nadiyah Gulley. Established in 2016, Swanky D’s is a company dedicated to mentoring and coaching businesses on how to creatively succeed in a competitive industry through visu...

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EP 38: FOREVER FUN!
March 30, 2022

EP 38: FOREVER FUN!

This week’s guest is Nathan Waldon, Founder of Everything for Nathan & Co . After a bazillion plus years of product development for the big guys, nothing ever scratched his retail itch like opening his own eponymous shops. He...

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EP 37: SIMPLIFY BUSINESS. IMPROVE LIVES.
March 23, 2022

EP 37: SIMPLIFY BUSINESS. IMPROVE LIVES.

This week’s guest is Kurt Beeken, Owner & President of Retail Dimensions (RDi). Kurt is a veteran of the retail and technology industry having worked in retail technology since 1985. He has written and implemented inventory m...

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EP 36: A LOVE LETTER TO LA
March 16, 2022

EP 36: A LOVE LETTER TO LA

This week’s guest is Jeannine Braden / Creative Director & Co-Founder / Le Superbe California . From long time Los Angeles fashion insider Jeannine Braden, stylist, consultant and former owner of the much-loved Santa Monica b...

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EP 35: FAILURE IS YOUR BEST INSTRUCTOR
March 9, 2022

EP 35: FAILURE IS YOUR BEST INSTRUCTOR

We have all dealt with what we perceive as a failure. Failure can be useful. We can learn from it, gain new insights, and do better next time. The right kind of failures give us new information & teach us …

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EP 35: FAILURE IS YOUR BEST INSTRUCTOR
March 9, 2022

EP 35: FAILURE IS YOUR BEST INSTRUCTOR

We have all dealt with what we perceive as a failure. Failure can be useful. We can learn from it, gain new insights, and do better next time. The right kind of failures give us new information & teach us …

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EP 34: CHAXEL
March 2, 2022

EP 34: CHAXEL

We LOVE a #hustler and this week’s guest Brea Menees, owner of Chaxel certainly falls under that header! Brea is a 31-year-old California native, married for 4 years with 2 frenchie babies and has a Fashion Degree from Sacram...

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EP 33: HUMANIZING RETAIL WITH STELLA ADENA OF RANCHO RELAXO
Feb. 23, 2022

EP 33: HUMANIZING RETAIL WITH STELLA ADENA OF RANCHO RELAXO

Stella grew up in Ohio and studied Economics and Japanese at Princeton University. Stella made a career change at 30 from investment banking to fashion. She moved from San Francisco to New York where she worked her way up at …

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EP 32: KITTY MEOW BOUTIQUE. WITTY. SWEET. FIERCE.
Feb. 16, 2022

EP 32: KITTY MEOW BOUTIQUE. WITTY. SWEET. FIERCE.

This week’s guest is Catherine (Cat) Hildner, creator, designer and heart & soul behind Kitty Meow® Boutique ( @kittymeowboutique ). Michelle & Cat will be discussing, among other things, the beauty of 'F' Bombs, Cat’s blogs,...

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EP 31: ETIQUETTE & GRATITUDE
Feb. 9, 2022

EP 31: ETIQUETTE & GRATITUDE

After 3 weeks of doing setups & buying at both the Las Vegas Winter Market & LA Mart Winter Market , Michelle has had time to decompress and reflect on the do’s and don'ts of how to act in someone’s …

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EP 30: LITT CONCEPT HOUSE — 'CREATING CONNECTION THROUGH RETAIL'
Feb. 2, 2022

EP 30: LITT CONCEPT HOUSE — 'CREATING CONNECTION THROUGH RETAIL'

A family who travels together, stays together. The Litt family has traveled the world for fifty years, antiquing in over 35 countries! As direct importers, they went on too many buying trips to count. With weekly shipments co...

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EP 29: DIPPING YOUR TOE INTO THE ECOMMERCE POOL
Jan. 26, 2022

EP 29: DIPPING YOUR TOE INTO THE ECOMMERCE POOL

Web Studios West has been building websites, e-commerce solutions, social media platforms, and custom software for over two decades. This week's guest is Shiloh Pettyjohn is Co-Founder and Senior Vice President of Sales for W...

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EP 28: GIFT SHOW BUYER TIPS & TRICKS
Jan. 19, 2022

EP 28: GIFT SHOW BUYER TIPS & TRICKS

On this week’s episode, Michelle, on-site in Las Vegas for multiple client show set-ups, will be sharing her tips & tricks on the most effective way to attend a gift show. From day 1 strategies, to packing the right snacks …

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EP 27: BUILDING A WARDROBE WITH JENNY LIVITS
Jan. 12, 2022

EP 27: BUILDING A WARDROBE WITH JENNY LIVITS

This week’s guest is Jenny Livits, the founder of Pink Lagoon , a boutique located in Solana Beach, California, and Wardrobe Design and Styling by Jenny Livits, a holistic personal styling business that helps teach women that...

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EP 26: MARGO KOPMAN / PRESIDENT — PROJECT RETAIL
Jan. 5, 2022

EP 26: MARGO KOPMAN / PRESIDENT — PROJECT RETAIL

Stylish Visionary : Ambitious Multi-tasker : Retail Junkie Margo Kopman lives, eats, and breathes all things retail. With over 15 years of retail consulting experience as the President of Project Retail , she is extremely pas...

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EP 25: RUNNING A MULTIGENERATIONAL FAMILY BUSINESS
Dec. 22, 2021

EP 25: RUNNING A MULTIGENERATIONAL FAMILY BUSINESS

This week’s episode is near and dear to Michelle’s heart. She had the pleasure of interviewing her friend and former co-worker Damon Von Schweikert of Von Schweikert Audio. As former co-workers, which they touch on in the epi...

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EP 24: SOLOCAST - TOP 10 DISPLAY TIPS!
Dec. 15, 2021

EP 24: SOLOCAST - TOP 10 DISPLAY TIPS!

This week's episode is a Michelle Solocast where she will take the listeners on a deep dive into her design philosophy and review her Top 10 Display Tips! Michelle was asked earlier this year to write an article for Gift …

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EP 23: OWNER/FOUNDER OF SERGE + JANE - JAMIE CARL
Dec. 8, 2021

EP 23: OWNER/FOUNDER OF SERGE + JANE - JAMIE CARL

S+J is a Lifestyle Boutique featuring Men's, Women's, Kids, Pets, Vinyl, Home + Gifts in our 3 story shop, (4 including their open-air rooftop where they host fashion shows, trunk shows, pop-ups + always a DJ + dance party)! ...

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EP 22: HELPING RETAILERS BECOME MORE PROFITABLE!
Dec. 1, 2021

EP 22: HELPING RETAILERS BECOME MORE PROFITABLE!

We are thrilled to have the president of The Retail Smart Guys , Dan Jablons, as a guest this week. The Retail Smart Guys is the premiere consulting company. Dan Jablons worked in retail while attending the Ohio State Univers...

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EP 21: SHOULDER PADS & UNDERAGE DRINKING
Nov. 24, 2021

EP 21: SHOULDER PADS & UNDERAGE DRINKING

This week’s episode was a tricky one to write show notes for as I am part of the episode. Michelle and I (Elisa) have been friends for over 40 years and although our professional lives couldn’t be more different, we …

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EP 20: NECESSITY IS THE MOTHER OF INVENTION
Nov. 17, 2021

EP 20: NECESSITY IS THE MOTHER OF INVENTION

This week we are so grateful to welcome Kelly Bloodgood, owner of Well + Good Health Studio. After dealing with mysterious symptoms most of her life, Kelly was finally diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease and Epstein-Barr in 2...

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EP 19: JACKALOPE ARTS CO-FOUNDERS - MELISSA KOHOUT AND SARA DIEDRICH
Nov. 10, 2021

EP 19: JACKALOPE ARTS CO-FOUNDERS - MELISSA KOHOUT AND SARA DIEDRICH

The two founders of Jackalope Arts , Melissa Kohout and Sara Diederich, met through their time spent working with an international arts organization, creating regular art centered events in Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco,...

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EP 18: B.DAZZLED OWNER - ROBIN MOLAN
Nov. 3, 2021

EP 18: B.DAZZLED OWNER - ROBIN MOLAN

We are always impressed with our guests who have built a successful side hustle and Robin Molan is no exception! A lawyer since 1995 practicing in high conflict family litigation and child welfare and overwhelmed with the hea...

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EP 17: LIFE AFTER ANTHRO - ELAINE STRAWBRIDGE
Oct. 27, 2021

EP 17: LIFE AFTER ANTHRO - ELAINE STRAWBRIDGE

This is our episode #4 in our ‘Life After Anthro’ series. Guest Elaine Strawbridge is a passionate creative and leader with a 20+ year career in retail. Growing up in the greater Chicagoland area, she was immersed in sports a...

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EP 16: MAISON A OWNER & ENTREPRENEUR - ANDREA LESLIE
Oct. 20, 2021

EP 16: MAISON A OWNER & ENTREPRENEUR - ANDREA LESLIE

This week’s guest is actually Michelle’s first guest who is an actual MC Design Collaboration client. Andrea Leslie is not only a savvy human resources professional and entrepreneur with diverse experience including technolog...

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EP 15: MY MCCARTHY FOUNDER OF GAVIN LUXE: PURVEYORS OF SENSUAL LIVING
Oct. 13, 2021

EP 15: MY MCCARTHY FOUNDER OF GAVIN LUXE: PURVEYORS OF SENSUAL LIVING

Three passions: impeccable design, sensuous aromatics and self-care. Having enjoyed a successful career as a brand strategist, My McCarthy created Gavin Luxe as a way to reconnect with herself and unapologetically enjoy the i...

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EP 14: CREATOR & AUTHOR OF THE 52-WEEK JOURNAL SERIES - MINDI MILLER
Oct. 6, 2021

EP 14: CREATOR & AUTHOR OF THE 52-WEEK JOURNAL SERIES - MINDI MILLER

Mindi Miller is, in no particular order, a mother, a sister, a mentor to at-risk teens, a TV producer, a wife, and an ex-wife. She is grateful to have a family that loves her and mostly ignores one in-law who …

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EP 13: DAISY'S MERCANTILE - BARBARA MOONEY
Sept. 29, 2021

EP 13: DAISY'S MERCANTILE - BARBARA MOONEY

This week's guest is Barbara Mooney, owner of Daisy’s Mercantile , a boutique filled with necessities, frivolities, and embellishments for everyday life, located in Alameda, California. Barbara has always used her creative gi...

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EP 12: CHRISTINE STREET GREGG OF CHOCOLATE & STEEL - LIFE AFTER ANTHRO
Sept. 22, 2021

EP 12: CHRISTINE STREET GREGG OF CHOCOLATE & STEEL - LIFE AFTER ANTHRO

This weeks guest, Christine Street Gregg owner of Chocolate & Steel , is our 3rd interview in our ‘Life After Anthro’ series. Christine Street is the Founder and Designer of Chocolate and Steel, a jewelry line on a mission to...

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EP 11: THE SOLOCAST #2
Sept. 15, 2021

EP 11: THE SOLOCAST #2

For those of you who have asked “Exactly what does Michelle do?” This is the episode that is a deep dive into exactly what Michelle does for each client and the role she plays in each of their businesses. She’ll …

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EP 10: SOUL ADDICT PART 2 - LAURA WHITE
Sept. 8, 2021

EP 10: SOUL ADDICT PART 2 - LAURA WHITE

From press in Martha Stewart Living to Marie Claire to being sold in Urban Outfitters to Neiman Marcus , Soul Addict, a farm-first & woman-owned organic Hemp CBD Company continues to inspire us in part 2 of our 2 part …

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EP 9: SOUL ADDICT - LAURA WHITE
Sept. 1, 2021

EP 9: SOUL ADDICT - LAURA WHITE

This week’s guest is Laura White, founder and CEO of Soul Addict , a conscious CBD line & majority women-owned hemp farm she runs with her business partner, Maxwell Gaudin. She launched Soul Addict in her ‘soul city’ of New …

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EP 8: GREAT GIFT & PAPER - CHRIS WILLARD
Aug. 25, 2021

EP 8: GREAT GIFT & PAPER - CHRIS WILLARD

This week’s interview is with Chris Willard from The Great Gift & Paper Co. Chris began her career as a registered nurse where medicine was her first love. At that time, as crazy as it sounds, there weren’t a lot …

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EP 7: SAMANTHA DAVIS - LIFE AFTER ANTHRO
Aug. 18, 2021

EP 7: SAMANTHA DAVIS - LIFE AFTER ANTHRO

This week’s interview is the second in our series ‘Life After Anthro’. My former intern, Samantha Davis, is now a successful entrepreneur within the birth industry, and has spent the last four years, along with her husband, b...

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EP 6: PUTTING ON YOUR POSITIVE PANTS
Aug. 11, 2021

EP 6: PUTTING ON YOUR POSITIVE PANTS

From an 18-year-old stock girl at Nordstrom’s to creating Urban Girl Accessories in 1994, Annie Lents Glen chats with Michelle on how she manages to run a 10 location, 5 concept retail business in the San Diego, California ar...

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EP 5: EFFIE TANJI - BODEWELL LIVING
Aug. 4, 2021

EP 5: EFFIE TANJI - BODEWELL LIVING

Everyone loves a good comeback story, and today's guest, Effie Tanji from Bodewell Living, is making it her mission to share how she’s doing it her way: fierce, fearless, and free. After co-founding and operating a small, slo...

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EP 4: SISTERS CREATING SMILES - SUSIE & HEIDI BAUER
July 28, 2021

EP 4: SISTERS CREATING SMILES - SUSIE & HEIDI BAUER

Today’s guests are sisters and design creatives, Susie & Heidi Bauer, owners of Rock Scissor Paper. Rock Scissor Paper has created products imbued with their signature sense of color and optimism that stay true to their joyfu...

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EP 3: JESSICA YOUNG - LIFE AFTER ANTHRO
July 21, 2021

EP 3: JESSICA YOUNG - LIFE AFTER ANTHRO

This episode is part one of our 'Life After Anthropologie' multi-episode series. Today’s episode is a trip down memory lane for Michelle and Jess who worked together at Anthropologie. Jessica is the co-host of The Rants & Rav...

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EP 2: KINGFISHER ROAD BOUTIQUE – KELLY AND LAURA EPSTEIN
July 14, 2021

EP 2: KINGFISHER ROAD BOUTIQUE – KELLY AND LAURA EPSTEIN

Today’s guests are Kingfisher Road boutique founder, Kelly Epstein and her daughter Laura. Kingfisher Road boutique was established in 2004. Kelly began selling at fundraisers and private events. What began as a fun side bus...

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