WHERE BRAINS MEET BEAUTY

In Episode 297 of Where Brains Meet Beauty, founder and CEO of Glamazon Beauty Cosmetics Kim Baker and content creator and Your Glow Guide author Felicia Walker sit down to talk about building careers that did not exist when they were kids.Kim’s path starts at 13 as a model with Elite, crossing paths with legends like Andy Warhol and Basquiat, then being pulled out of the industry for her own safety. She later returns, co-pioneers plus-size modeling and eventually pivots into makeup artistry after years of struggling to find foundation that matched her skin. Mixing shades behind the counter at brands like Prescriptives and Bobbi Brown became an education in undertones and inclusivity that now powers Glamazon Beauty. Today, she is part artist, part founder, part motivator, writing handwritten notes to customers and using public speaking to help women feel “beautifully empowered.”Felicia’s journey began in a different place: HR executive by day, beauty obsessive by night. She launched a blog simply to pour out everything living in her head about skincare, ingredients and routines. That curiosity turned her into an early “digital beauty space architect,” breaking down formulas and skin types long before ingredient education was mainstream. Blogging opened doors to editorial, product development and now authorship. Her focus has evolved into helping people truly understand their skin and spotlighting 50+ skincare and longevity, a demographic she rarely saw represented.Together, Kim and Felicia talk about listening to the “whisper” of a calling, balancing data with gut, handling comments with grace (and a bit of edge when needed), and using influence to educate rather than just sell. One builds confidence with a foundation stick, the other with a framework for skincare, but both are expanding what it means to have a career in beauty on their own terms. Check out more from Kim at glamazonbeauty.com & Felicia's book Your Glow Guide.

In this episode of Where Brains Meet Beauty, Jodi Katz sits down with Dr. Ariel Ostad Dermatologist, Cosmetic Surgeon & Brand Founder and Kelsie Johnston, Former GM/Head of Beauty & Personal Care TikTok Shop US to explore how artistry, influence, and authenticity shape the future of beauty.From a middle school dream of becoming a buyer to helping launch TikTok Shop in the U.S., Kelsie shares how pairing data with creativity unlocked massive growth transforming e-commerce into a community-driven experience. She explains that the brands thriving today are those that let creators and customers co-author the narrative instead of trying to control it.As both dermatologist and brand founder, Ariel reflects on the artistry behind his work from subtle aesthetic enhancements to reconstructive surgery. For him, dermatology is where science meets sculpture. He also discusses launching his own skincare line, built on evidence-based formulas and a deep sense of empathy for patients.The conversation turns to AI, community management, and the importance of preserving humanity in a hyper-digital world. Both guests highlight the loneliness behind the influencer lens and the need to foster real relationships through coffee chats, connection, and care.When the talk shifts to balance, Kelsie shares her go-to box-breathing ritual before major meetings, Ariel describes his daily meditation and visualization routine, and Jodi admits that her best reset is lying on the floor with her legs up the wall plus keeping social media off her phone.Tune in to hear how data, design, and human touch come together to shape the next chapter of beauty. And if you’d like to try any products from Dr. Ariel he gave us a code it’s WBMB20 for 20% off your purchase on drarielostadskincare.com

In this episode of Where Brains Meet Beauty with Jodi Katz, we explore how legal and financial experts fuel the growth of beauty and wellness brands. Guests Kara Posner, Partner at Gianuzzi Lewendon and Thomas Cunningham, Director of Business Development at Physician Growth Partners share how they help founders navigate funding, scale strategically, and prepare for exits.From childhood dreams of animation and pro sports to careers in law and investment banking, Kara and Thomas reveal how early passions shape their approach to high-stakes advisory work. They dive into what it means to be true partners to entrepreneurs, offering not just strategy but empathy, creativity, and commitment.Expect insights on M&A, fundraising, managing strong personalities, and why real human connection still beats any app. A must-listen for anyone building a beauty, wellness, or med spa business.Thank you to our sponsor Beauty Connect - Get 10% off tickets with code WBMB.

In Episode 291 of Where Brains Meet Beauty with Jodi Katz, the spotlight turns to two investors redefining what it means to back beauty and wellness brands: Kara LaForgia, Founder & Managing Partner at Hive Ventures, and Rich Gersten, Co-Founder & General Partner at True Beauty Ventures. Their paths to venture capital could not be more different, yet both reflect the persistence, gut instincts, and passion that this industry demands.Kara’s story is one of constant reinvention. A lawyer by training, she started her career as an NFL sports agent, worked with Birdman and Lil Wayne at Cash Money Records, and went on to become the first employee at multiple startups before launching her own consulting business. From there, she began investing off her balance sheet, eventually managing capital for others and institutionalizing her approach under Hive Ventures. She describes herself as hands-on, gritty, and opportunistic, never afraid to step into an unfilled role or claim an open lane. For her, the ideal founder to back is someone who “eats, breathes, sleeps” their company, often an operator with deep experience at an early-stage brand who impresses her enough to think about them long after a meeting ends.Rich’s trajectory looks more traditional, but with its own twists. After business school, he entered private equity as a generalist, covering consumer companies across food, supplements, and retail. More than 20 years ago, he stumbled into his first beauty investment, Avalon Natural Products, followed by DDF Skincare. What began as an assignment from the founder of his firm “spend half your time on beauty” became a lifelong focus. Though initially skeptical, Gersten came to see beauty as uniquely resilient and endlessly dynamic. He recalls attending his first Women’s Wear Daily CEO Summit as the only private equity investor in the room, a stark contrast to today, where investors and bankers crowd those events alongside brand leaders. Five years ago, he co-founded True Beauty Ventures, a sector-specialized fund that now manages 20 brands across categories, channels, and geographies.Together, their perspectives reveal how beauty investing blends strategy with soul. The capital matters, but so do the founders, the vision, and the consumer connection. Both Hive Ventures and True Beauty Ventures may run lean teams, but they bring something more valuable than scale: deep expertise, empathy for founders, and an insider’s feel for where consumer trends are headed. As Gersten puts it, to invest successfully in beauty, you have to love it. Anything less just doesn’t stick. Thank you to our sponsor Beauty Connect. Get 10% off tickets with code WBMB.

What do NASA and luxury beauty have in common? In this stellar episode of Where Brains Meet Beauty, Jodi Katz sits down with Lindy Firstenberg, Senior Vice President, Beauty & Luxury at Alix Partners and Catherine Nekavand, Partner at Alix Partners - two powerhouse leaders who traded space suits and oil rigs for silk scarves and fragrance launches.Lindy, who once tested satellite mechanisms at NASA, shares how her journey took a glamorous turn at Louis Vuitton, where she helped launch the brand’s fragrance line. Catherine, a petroleum engineer who’s worked everywhere from Chad to Norway, reveals how she pivoted into the world of Tiffany & Co. and luxury retail, armed with a global perspective and an MBA from HEC Paris.Together, they unpack the art of transformation in luxury consulting, preserving brand heritage while using data and strategic insights to drive growth. They also share their leadership philosophies, tips for navigating career pivots, and how they keep the “magic” alive during mergers and acquisitions.And yes, we play a little game of “Beauty in Zero Gravity” because who says astronauts don’t need great moisturizer? Whether you're in the boardroom or dreaming of the stars, this episode will inspire you to embrace your path, even if it's not linear.A huge thank you to our partners at Beauty Connect Series - grab your ticket today at beautyconnectla.com and use code WBMB for 10% off!

Preventative care meets powerful branding in this electric conversation with Dr. David Kim, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Lightsaver and Vicente Vasquez, Global Senior Brand Design Manager at Colgate-Palmolive.We explore the emotional and behavioral roots of beauty rituals — and what it really takes to shift them. From daily sunscreen to oral care routines, they reveal why so many people know what to do, but still don’t follow through.Vicente brings a sharp creative lens, shaped by a lifelong love of mixtapes, theater, and storytelling. That background fuels the emotional resonance behind the design work he now leads for one of the world’s biggest personal care brands.Dr. Kim shares the kind of insights that make you rethink your own habits — like why most people skip sunscreen (even when they have it), and how products feel, tone, and texture could be the key to long-term skin health. His take on beauty as preventative care is both science-based and deeply human.Together, they explore what makes a brand unforgettable, how to navigate creative critique, why timelessness beats trend-chasing — and yes, the best egg sandwich ever eaten during an interview.

Jodi Katz sat down with two powerhouse women making waves in personal health: Taryn Shockley, USA Sales & Education Manager at AlumierMD, and Kelly Murphy, General Manager at Lola. What followed was a deep, human, and often hilarious look at ambition, imposter syndrome, reinvention—and the workouts that keep them grounded.Taryn’s story starts on the balance beam. A gymnast from age two, she was competing at elite levels by ten and earned a full ride to ASU. But when an injury ended her collegiate career, she made her first major pivot—into skincare. What began as a passion for facials turned into a sales role that demanded she master the art of influence in highly clinical, physician-led spaces. Today, she's navigating a category that’s equal parts science and sales—and getting real about how to stay resilient when your numbers (or your self-worth) are on the line.Meanwhile, Kelly dreamt of being editor-in-chief of Seventeen Magazine—a goal she nearly touched when working at Penguin Books. But the realities of New York rent pushed her into digital marketing, where she built a versatile toolkit across SEO, UX, and data strategy at top agencies like Publicis and Havas. Now, she’s steering the ship at Lola, a pioneer in clean period care, and facing challenges every modern marketer knows too well: a saturated market, rising media costs, and a pressing need to evolve the brand story. Her secret weapon? Relationship-building. Whether managing a 20-person team or advocating for upper-funnel investment, Kelly leads with connection—and a healthy dose of what she calls “female rage.”While their paths are wildly different, Taryn and Kelly share a trait we see often in the Where Brains Meet Beauty community: the willingness to leap. Whether it’s changing industries, stepping into roles they weren’t quite ready for, or pushing back on outdated business norms, both women prove that reinvention isn’t just possible—it’s powerful. Yes, we had fun. From underwater spin classes to soundscape-enhanced yoga, Taryn and Kelly gave us their go-to workouts and how they use fitness as both therapy and mental reset. (Spoiler: one peed on a trampoline, one has a Fuze House membership in every city.)Their stories are packed with honesty, hustle, and the kind of lessons you only learn by leaping before you're ready.

We sat down with two trailblazers in women’s health Claire Coder, founder and CEO of Aunt Flow and Smita Asrani, VP of Partnerships at UE Life Sciences. The episode opened with childhood dreams—Claire reminisced about staging Britney Spears concerts in her closet, while Smita shared her early love of horses. Neither imagined a future in healthcare, but both ultimately found themselves tackling some of the most overlooked (and long overdue) issues in women’s wellness.Claire shared her journey from being a Party Princess to becoming a purpose-driven entrepreneur, a path sparked by a frustrating moment on her college campus that inspired the creation of Aunt Flow. Smita talked about her pivot from a career in finance to one focused on health innovation, where she now works to expand access to early breast cancer screening for women under 40.Their conversation delved into the challenges of career pivots, the weight of imposter syndrome, and what it’s like to lead in industries still dominated by men. They explored the impact of advocacy too—Claire’s work has helped bring period products into schools in 28 states, while Smita is helping to bring lifesaving tools like iBreast Exam to underserved communities.The episode wrapped on a fun note with a game of “real vs. fake legislation,” revealing how surprising—and sometimes downright inspiring—health policy can be.At its heart, this episode was a reminder to speak up, stay curious, and ask the tough questions. Because more often than not, real change starts with one brave voice.A must-listen for anyone passionate about innovation, equity, and the power of personal stories to drive public impact. Check out more info on both guests brands at GoAuntFlow.com and UELifeSciences.com.