Overheard: Where Venture Meets Culture

What comes first? Hip-hop or culture. It’s hard to say but there is no doubt that hip-hop artists are incredible story tellers, and we at Listen owe a lot of our truth and inspiration to them. Listen in as JoJo, Brentos, and Jeff dig into their early memories with hip-hop, how artists understand brand, and why being mentioned in a hip-hop song is the ultimate sign that you or your product has officially made it.

*This was recorded in February 2022.

A word from our portfolio: Whether you’re new to the weed party or you’ve been around for a while, Miss Grass is here to light your way. Miss Grass minis enhances the Time of your life. Fast Times, Quiet Times, All Times—and every moment in between. Head to missgrass.com to find your time today.

Host: Joelle Cosmas
Guests: Jeff Cantalupo and Brentos Fernandez

Follow Us⁣:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Twitter

Phones... They’re with us through the best of times and the worst. Although times may have been simpler 20 years ago, our devices have certainly helped us simplify our busy lives. From walking your dog to paying your bills to ordering food, one or two clicks gets you pretty far on a phone or computer. And with that, we’ve also seen how one or two clicks can cause some damage. Listen in as JoJo, Rick, and Ryan dig into the ways our devices have helped us come together and divided us, some of our own tech hygiene, and our hopes for the future of technology.

A word from our portfolio: Catch Co. is on a mission to rescue people from the indoors and creates amazing fishing brands, products, and shopping experiences for the modern angler. Check out catchco.com for your favorite new products and fishing inspiration.

Host: Joelle Cosmas
Guests: Rick Desai and Ryan Sievert

Follow Us⁣:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Twitter

Whether we’re scrolling on social media or shopping or eating or reading the news, we are constantly consuming. It makes up who we are and it’s changing — from digital content to physical items, there has never been more to consume. Listen in as the team dives into conscious consumption, the nine lives of our items, the ongoing rent vs. buy debate, and more. 

A word from our portfolio: Public Goods is your one-stop shop for organic and fair trade groceries, safe and sustainable personal care, and plant powered household cleaners. Visit publicgoods.com to check out our latest products.

Host: Joelle Cosmas
Guests: Rick Desai and Brentos Fernandez

Follow Us⁣:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Twitter

If we had a nickel for every time we’ve heard the phrase “timing is everything” we’d have a lot of nickels. Not only is this true for jobs, relationships, life changes… It's also a key ingredient for startups. The best part? You can’t control it. From successes like Uber and Airbnb, to not-so-successes like Webvan and Friendster, JoJo, Brentos, and Jeff dive into how consumer shifts and startup launch timing go hand in hand.

A word from our portfolio: Calm is the #1 app for sleep, meditation, and relaxation with proven techniques designed to ease your mind or lull you to sleep in under 10 minutes. Calm is on a mission to make the world healthier and happier. Head over to calm.com to check out their latest collabs. 

Host: Joelle Cosmas
Guests: Jeff Cantalupo and Brentos Fernandez

Follow Us⁣:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Twitter

It’s that time of year when all of the things you want for the holidays are ✨ magically ✨ showing up in your feed every other post. And even though we’re all kinda used to our phones listening to us, it’s a little different when you start seeing these products in your snail mail. Listen in as JoJo, Ryan, and Jeff talk about how brands are leaning into direct mail and how Facebook and Apple’s privacy updates are changing up the DTC media mix. You already know, we gush over the famous Sears Christmas catalog from years ago. 

A word from our portfolio: Slumberkins is a leading children’s brand promoting early emotional learning. Each of their creature collections focus on unique skills such as conflict resolution, self-esteem, and more. The tools are rooted in therapeutic techniques to help parents and caregivers raise resilient, caring, and confident children. Learn more at slumberkins.com.

Host: Joelle Cosmas
Guests: Jeff Cantalupo and Ryan Sievert

Follow Us⁣:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Twitter

Meta this, meta that. Is it just us, or has it been hard to avoid the term metaverse over the last few months? And although this isn’t a new idea, it’s happening and the screen-based internet as we know it is changing. Strap on your Oculus and listen in as JoJo, Rick, and Brentos talk about the future of how we’ll go to concerts, hang out with friends, spend QT with family, and experience our favorite brands. 

Disclaimer: This episode was recorded on October 13, 2021. Pre-Facebook Inc. becoming Meta Platforms Inc.

A word from our portfolio: Codeverse is a place where today’s kids invent tomorrow. Through guided coding, Codeverse is an online platform and community where kids ages 6-13 bring ideas to life by creating their own apps and games.

Host: Joelle Cosmas
Guests: Rick Desai and Brentos Fernandez

Follow Us⁣:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Twitter

Gone are the days where you just need a bed, pillow, and blanket to sleep. Now, night time routines are more complex and thoughtful than ever with sound machines, customized mattresses, special glasses, and more — creating an industry that’s worth over $80B. JoJo, Ryan, and Jeff lay it all on the bed to dive into sleep health, the brands winning in this space, and what a world would look like if sleep training continued into adulthood.

A word from our portfolio: Calm is the #1 app for sleep, meditation and relaxation with proven techniques designed to ease your mind or lull you to sleep in under 10 minutes. Head to calm.com to check out their latest collaborations with your favorite voices like Tabitha Brown, Harry Styles, LeBron James, and more.   

Host: Joelle Cosmas
Guests: Ryan Sievert and Jeff Cantalupo

Follow Us⁣:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Twitter

ICYMI… An online sneaker community, raised a $12.5M Series A to give fans a curated place to navigate the world of shoes. As sneakerheads and community nerds, this opened up the conversation of what it means for a brand to have a community and what it doesn’t. JoJo, Brentos, and Rick unpack the difference in showing up versus showing off and how brands build and sustain community. Bonus points if you’re able to guess how many times we say the word “community”. 

A word from our portfolio: Interior Define provides state-of-the-art customization tools, free design guidance and in-home swatches, to give you everything you need to design the perfect new couch from the comfort of your old one. Check out interiordefine.com for all your furniture needs.

Host: Joelle Cosmas
Guests: Brentos Fernandez and Rick Desai

Follow Us⁣:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Twitter

You know what they say… do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life. Whoever said that probably didn’t think that in 2021, 33% of kids between the ages 8-12 would be saying they want to be YouTubers when they grow up. So, it was time to talk about how passions are turning into careers. JoJo, Brentos, and Jeff take a trip down creator economy lane and dive into the ever changing world of content, monetization, and community.

A word from our portfolio: Catch Co. is on a mission to rescue people from the indoors and creates amazing fishing brands, products, and shopping experiences for the modern angler. Check out catchco.com for your favorite new products and fishing inspiration. 

Host: Joelle Cosmas
Guests: Brentos Fernandez and Jeff Cantalupo

Follow Us⁣:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Twitter

Pandemics and quarantine and kiddos, oh my! As the US passes the one-year mark since the COVID-19 quarantine began, we’re diving into the way this past year has impacted Generation C and their parents — the relationship with each other, new routines, emotional wellbeing, e-learning, and so much more. JoJo, Ryan, and Rick are joined by special guests, Callie Christensen and Kelly Oriard, co-founders and co-CEOs of Slumberkins to dish on the boogers and beauty of quarantine. 

A word from our portfolio: Slumberkins is a leading children’s brand promoting early emotional learning. Each of their creature collections focus on unique skills such as conflict resolution, self-esteem, and more. The tools are rooted in therapeutic techniques to help parents and caregivers raise resilient, caring, and confident children. Learn more at slumberkins.com.

Host: Joelle Cosmas
Guests: Ryan Sievert, Rick Desai, Callie Christensen and Kelly Oriard of Slumberkins

Follow Us⁣:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Twitter

It’s hard to explain why the bathroom is a key player to women’s conversations, but we tried because it’s a real thing. From first times, to heart to hearts, in your own bathroom or at a bar, a lot goes down in those four walls besides just going to the bathroom. JoJo, Kimmie, and Nika are joined by special guest, Kim Lewis, CEO of CurlMix, to talk about brands that have the bathroom at the center of their strategies and how to rebrand that beloved room. You’re going to want to pull up a chair for this one.  

A word from our portfolio: Public Goods is your one-stop shop for organic and fair trade groceries, safe and sustainable personal care, and plant powered household cleaners. Visit publicgoods.com to check out our latest products.

Host: Joelle Cosmas
Guests: Kimmie Carey, Nika Longo, Kim Lewis of CurlMix

Follow Us⁣:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Twitter

Audio has been around for a while, but say hello to the new wave. The world is just scratching the surface for new ways to listen to, engage with, and experience audio, and we’re here for it. JoJo, Brentos, and Rick sit down to talk about the audio stack, how audio can build your brand, and the new platforms to plug into.  

A word from our portfolio: Interior Define makes the furniture customizing and shopping experience enjoyable. Get the piece of your dreams on your own terms at interiordefine.com. 

Host: Joelle Cosmas
Guests: Brentos Fernandez, Rick Desai

Follow Us⁣:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Twitter

It’s January 28th aka nine days after January 19th aka the day most people are likely to give up on their New Year's Resolution. But in case you missed it, resolutions are out and wellbeing is in. JoJo, Jeff, and Ryan are joined by special guest, Mike Apostal, CEO of Factor, to talk about hitting the reset button, what brands can do to lean in, category shifts, and some of our biggest flops from past new year resolutions. 

A word from our portfolio: Factor delivers healthy meals to your door that are designed by dietitians and created by world class chefs. Check out factor75.com to orders yours today.

Host: Joelle Cosmas
Guests: Jeff Cantalupo, Ryan Sievert, Mike Apostal

Follow Us⁣:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Twitter

Let’s be honest... if we can’t get something delivered in two days with free shipping, is it really worth buying? We all know the answer to that. In a time of next-day delivery and being able to track it at every stage, we’ve grown quite impatient. Add in a presidential election during a global pandemic and tensions are at an all time high. Jo, Jeff, and Brentos break down the instant delivery, rapid results, and instant gratification world we live in. Listen in as we talk about the Amazon effect and how it impacts your relationship with the consumer.

Host: Joelle Cosmas
Guests: Jeff Cantalupo & Brentos Fernandez

\\ Ad \\

We spend 87% of our time indoors, most of which is spent staring at screens. The devastating impact on our bodies, minds, and relationships is just now coming to light. Picking up a new outdoor activity like fishing can rescue you from all of that. Enter Catch Co. They are creating amazing fishing brands, products, & shopping experiences for the modern angler. Fishing can create fun, memorable experiences that improve your health and wellness and is a great way to bond with friends and family. For information on new products and partnerships, visit catchco.com. Brought to you by Catch Co. Fishing for the modern world. 

Follow Us⁣
LinkedIn
Instagram
Twitter

All jokes aside (well, maybe not all jokes), it was about time to talk about the fourth trimester. Even though it’s become more talked about over the last year, it’s still an under-discussed and under-planned part of the prenatal and postnatal journey. On this real and hilarious episode, we brought in two special guests: Rick and Ryan’s better halves — Nilam and Steph — to chat with Jo about all of their different postpartum experiences. Grab a seat (and maybe a diaper) as we talk about things people don’t tell you about the fourth trimester and the white spaces for brands to break through.

Host: Joelle Cosmas
Guests: Ryan Sievert & Rick Desai

\\ Ad \\

Slumberkins is a leading children’s brand promoting early emotional learning. Each of their creature collections focus on unique skills such as conflict resolution, self-esteem, grief & loss, stress relief, and more. The company, founded by a family therapist and an educator, strives to enrich lives by bringing young children and their caregivers closer together through the routine of interaction, connection and reflection around specific social skills. Each collection includes a story book based around a topic, a soft creature snuggler, and an affirmation card to practice and instill the intention of the collection. It's pretty awesome. The tools are rooted in therapeutic techniques to help parents and caregivers raise resilient, caring, and confident children. Learn more at slumberkins.com.

Follow Us⁣
LinkedIn
Instagram
Twitter

Reduce, reuse, recycle, and rethink. Four words that bring back memories of first learning about recycling. We sat down with Jenna Walker, former co-founder of Artifact Uprising and currently Material Change, to dig into environmental sustainability. Listen in as the team talks about the highs and lows of our own sustainability journeys and how brands are making changes for the better. 

Host: Joelle Cosmas
Guests: Jenna Walker, Brentos Fernandez & Rick Desai

\\ Ad \\

Public Goods is committed to making healthier, more informed choices easy and accessible to all. It’s a one-stop shop for organic and fair trade groceries, safe and sustainable personal care, and plant powered household cleaners. All in a simple, beautifully designed package at ultra low prices. You’re going to want to put these on your shelves. You don’t have to be a superhero to make the world a better place. When we take steps together our small choices at Public Goods have a big impact. Visit publicgoods.com to check out our latest products ranging from food to essential oils to liners and vitamins.

Follow Us⁣
LinkedIn
Instagram
Twitter

What’s harder to resist? Touching a pimple or picking up your phone when it buzzes. The conversation around acne is moving away from hiding and moving toward highlighting. So, there are a lot of opportunities for brands, and consumers, to own it. Listen in as Jo sits down with Ryan and Rick to share their hate-hate relationship with acne and our thoughts on the changing world of skincare.

Host: Joelle Cosmas
Guests: Ryan Sievert & Rick Desai

\\ Ad \\

Want to hear about the warmest outerwear in the universe? Let me tell you about OROS,  an outdoor apparel brand powered by NASA that found a new solution to staying warm by looking to the stars. Their products are made with Solarcore - an aerogel composite that creates the best insulation in the universe. No really, it’s been tested against more than 250 insulations and they have yet to find anything warmer. This is the same technology that insulates modern spacecrafts against the most extreme conditions. They pride themselves on sciencing the shit out of everything they do and continuously look for ways to help you find your beyond. OROS’ products range from jackets to bottoms to accessories and everything in between. Get yours at orosapparel.com. 

Follow Us
LinkedIn
Instagram
Twitter

Daily reminder: In a world full of pretty Instagram grids, be a brand that has soul. Good design is table stakes these days, which is why we believe a company’s brand is so much more than aesthetically-pleasing visuals. Listen in as the Brand Dream Team (aka Jo, Jeff, and Brentos) talk through all things brand, not to be confused with branding.

Host: Joelle Cosmas
Guests: Brentos Fernandez and Jeff Cantalupo

\\ Ad \\

Imagine a futuristic wonderland designed just for kids. A world where kids can explore and experiment with gadgets and advanced, cutting edge technology. Introducing Codeverse. The best interactive coding experience for kids ages 6-13. At Codeverse, kids learn all about coding, video game development, 3D printing, robotics, CDC machining, and app design. Don’t believe me? Go check out the apps students have created in their App Store. Codeverse has studios locations throughout the Chicagoland area, as well as online programs, offering monthly virtual subscriptions, weekly coding classes, summer camps, and kids night out. Whether your child is new to coding or has been doing it for years, they’re sure to have a blast at Codeverse. Sign your tech-loving kid up for a free trial today at www.codeverse.com. Codeverse, a place where today’s kids invent tomorrow.

Follow Us
LinkedIn
Instagram
Twitter

Do you feel it? It’s a new wave of self-love. As the discussion and acceptance around sexual wellness evolves, we take on the taboo with special guest, Alexandra Fine, sexologist and CEO of Dame Products. Listen in as Al, Jo, Ryan, and Rick dive into the sexual wellness industry and talk pros, cons, and everything in-between. ⁣
⁣
Host: Joelle Cosmas
Guests: Alexandra Fine, Ryan Sievert, and Rick Desai
⁣
\\ Ad \\⁣
⁣
We all know a night out with friends after the exciting job promotion, marriage proposal, or first apartment is just what the doctor ordered. The drinks are flowing, but if you're like me, you're dreading the most painful part of the excitement - the shot. Until now. Insert Stolen Liquors, the brand of all brands. Adding its irreverent attitude to both its flagship Smoked Rum, its award winning Stolen Whiskey, and newest friend at the party, Stolen X, which is made up of American Rye Whiskey, with organic raw honey, and orange peel. That sounds delicious. You'll want the shots to keep flowing. Raise a glass and check out thisisstolen.com.⁣
⁣
Follow Us⁣
LinkedIn
Instagram
Twitter

Can you remember a time before you heard the phrase "social distancing"? As the world adjusts to COVID-19, it's been amazing to see just how social we've been and how we're finding new ways to connect with others. Listen in as Jo, Brentos, and Jeff unpack how this time has changed the way we connect, which brands have a meaningful part in the conversation and some of our predictions for when we'll be able to touch each other again.

Host: Joelle Cosmas
Guests: Brentos Fernandez and Jeff Cantalupo

\\ Ad \\

Slumberkins is a leading children’s brand promoting early emotional learning. Each of their creature collections focus on unique skills such as conflict resolution, self-esteem, grief & loss, stress relief, and more. The company, founded by a family therapist and an educator, strives to enrich lives by bringing young children and their caregivers closer together through the routine of interaction, connection and reflection around specific social skills. Each collection includes a story book based around a topic, a soft creature snuggler, and an affirmation card to practice and instill the intention of the collection. It's pretty awesome. The tools are rooted in therapeutic techniques to help parents and caregivers raise resilient, caring, and confident children. Learn more at slumberkins.com.

Follow Us
LinkedIn
Instagram
Twitter