Hot Smart Rich with Maggie Sellers Reum – Details, episodes & analysis

Matilda Djerf sits down with Maggie Sellers Reum to share the highs and lows of being a public female founder and what she really wishes people knew. The now 29-year-old opens up about what type of leader she is now after explaining what really happened at Djerf Avenue, what it was like knowing the article was coming months in advance, and how she handled the pressure of protecting a $36M brand in real time Matilda shares the full founder playbook. From landing culture-defining collabs (including Frankie’s Bikinis and Sofia Richie Graine) to building a brand that people line up for, Matilda breaks down how to secure your dream partnership, protect your team, and keep scaling when the internet is loud. Plus: Scandi-living, her upcoming wedding, and yes, the iconic hair. Timestamps: (00:00) Intro (01:24) Does Matilda Djerf Listen to Podcasts? (01:44) How She Became a Hair Icon (03:17) What She Was Like at School (03:41) Starting in Fashion at 11 (04:24) Moving to the US Without Speaking English (06:46) Why She Stayed in Sweden (Not LA) (07:56) Small Town Mindset vs Big Dreams (09:11) Why She Started Gathered (10:14) The Creator Economy Has Changed (12:29) Becoming A House Hold Name (14:35) The Truth About Scandi Living (15:33) Why Work-Life Balance Doesn’t Exist (16:40) I Accidentally Started a Lifestyle Trend (18:03) Why Sweden Doesn’t Celebrate Success (19:14) Turning 29: “I Did This” (20:06) The Work Behind Self-Confidence (21:31) Why She Started Djerf Avenue (26:47) Can the Brand Exist Without Her? (27:51) How Hailey Bieber Discovered Her (29:08) Ad: AG1 (30:08) What She Learned From Hailey Bieber (31:06) How She Makes Every Collab Work (31:40) How She Landed Sofia Richie Grainge (32:53) How She Knows a Drop Will Sell Out (34:20) Brands With Real Momentum Right Now (36:22) What Actually Makes a Brand Win (37:06) The Djerf Avenue Scandal Explained (40:12) Going Through It With Rasmus (40:54) How She Handled the Pressure Mentally (42:16) “People Don’t Care About Context” (44:27) Did the Scandal Make Her Better? (47:36) How She Feels About It Now (49:57) Who Works at Djerf Avenue? (51:36) Ad: Shopify (52:31) Ad: Bilt (53:28) How She Got Into Selfridges (56:19) What She’s Manifesting Now (56:59) Wedding Chat & Relationship Advice  (59:24) Do You And Rasmus Have Contracts? (01:00:24) Why Trust Has to Be Earned (01:03:15) Rapid Fire: Money Habits (01:03:26) Most Expensive Purchase (01:03:56) Dream Collaboration (01:04:30) Blowout vs Real Life (01:04:53) Dyson Airwrap vs Rhode (01:05:14) New York vs LA (01:05:39) Robe vs Blazer (01:06:21) Her Life Motto (01:06:46) The Season I’m In (01:07:16) Where to Find Matilda (01:07:47) What Can HSR Help You With? ⸻ Sponsors: . AG1 - Visit DrinkAG1.com/HSR to get a FREE morning person mug, plus a one-week supply of AG1 samples, with your AG1 Welcome Kit when you first subscribe.  . Shopify - http://Shopify.com/HSR  . Bilt - Sign up at http://Joinbilt.com/HSR ⸻ Follow Matilda Djerf: www.instagram.com/matildadjerf Check out Djerf Avenue: https://djerfavenue.com ⸻ Hot Smart Rich: Your Business & Culture Gossip For ambitious women wanting to own the room, gain power, and build wealth. Subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter: https://hotsmartrich.com/subscribe  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hotsmartrich/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hotsmartrich Maggie Sellers Reum: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maggiesellersreum/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maggiesellersreum LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sellersmaggie/ Locker: https://www.wantlocker.com/users/maggiesellers ShopMy: https://shopmy.us/maggiesellers Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/maggiesellers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to invest, build wealth, and spot winning brands early - according to a $2B fund manager!  Courtney Reum (investor, founder… and my husband!) breaks down how he actually decides what’s worth investing in and the mistakes most people make with money. From Khloe Kardashian’s Khloud protein chips to the $500M BuzzBallz story, we get into what makes a consumer brand take off and what quietly kills it. If you’ve ever wanted to start investing, build real wealth, or understand how these brands actually win - this is for you! Timestamps: 00:01:37 Investing Expert… And My Husband 00:03:11 The $500M BuzzBallz Divorce Story 00:06:34 Can You Build This Brand? 00:07:36 Why I Waited To Start A Brand 00:09:32 When To Start Your Business 00:11:37 How Smart Investors Judge Risk 00:13:17 Why Celebrities Are Investing 00:16:55 Do Brands Need Celebrities? 00:18:19 Khloe Kardashian’s Khloud Review 00:22:57 Fiverr Ad 00:24:07 Smash Kitchen Chips Review 00:25:59 My Food Brand Framework 00:29:23 Red Flags In Investing 00:33:30 The Coinbase Investment Story 00:35:25 Traits Of Billionaire Founders 00:37:42 Maggie’s HSR Founder Edge 00:38:47 Followers Or Resume Virtues? 00:40:16 Is An MBA Worth It? 00:42:40 Is Goldman Still Prestigious? 00:45:13 Stan Ad 00:46:16 How To Get Into VC 00:47:59 Why Women Apply Less For Jobs 00:49:39 Rapid Fire Investing Advice 00:49:55 Last Credit Card Purchase 00:50:29 Spend On Experiences Instead 00:50:51 Best Newsletter Right Now 00:51:09 Using AI For Newsletters 00:52:46 Worst Investment Mistakes 00:54:25 My Proudest Accolade 00:54:47 Food, Wellness Or AI? 00:55:25 My Biggest Investment Win 00:56:43 Why Brands Need Family Offices 00:59:11 What Is A Family Office? 01:00:40 How To Reach Family Offices 01:01:16 Mr HSR’s New Email ⸻ Sponsors: Fiverr - If you are scaling a business, then you need to visit https://pro.fiverr.com Stan - Learn more at http://getstanley.ai/maggie ⸻ Follow Courtney Reum: www.instagram.com/courtneyreum Find out more about M13 Venture Capital: www.m13.co ⸻ Hot Smart Rich: Your Business & Culture Gossip For ambitious women wanting to own the room, gain power, and build wealth. Subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter: https://hotsmartrich.com/subscribe  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hotsmartrich/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hotsmartrich Maggie Sellers Reum: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maggiesellersreum/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maggiesellersreum LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sellersmaggie/ Locker: https://www.wantlocker.com/users/maggiesellers ShopMy: https://shopmy.us/maggiesellers Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/maggiesellers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sabrina Zohar breaks down what’s really driving modern dating, from the pressure for instant certainty to anxious attachment, avoidance, and burnout. She explores how trauma shapes attraction, why great chemistry (or sex on the first date) doesn’t equal compatibility, and how modern dating dynamics can dysregulate the nervous system. Drawing on psychology, neuroscience, and her own journey from heartbreak to building a multi-million-dollar business featured on Shark Tank, Sabrina shares practical tools for setting boundaries, trusting yourself, and dating with intention - without losing your ambition. Timestamps: 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:41 Dating Is a Hot Mess (Here’s Why) 00:02:20 The Science of Dating Multiple People 00:04:27 What You Must Unlearn to Have a Healthy Relationship 00:05:29 Avoidant Attachment: Why Ambitious Women Struggle With Love 00:07:23 Dating While Building a Company 00:09:51 How Hard Should Dating Actually Feel? 00:11:04 Avoidance, Burnout & “No Good Men Left” 00:13:21 Dating Explained in Money Terms ($10K vs $100K) 00:14:53 How You Actually Learn Self-Worth 00:16:04 Build Emotional Safety With Micro-Yeses 00:18:34 Why Asking for Help Feels So Scary 00:19:09 3 Things Women Must Learn Before Healthy Love 00:20:51 Shopify Ad 00:22:13 The Only Questions That Matter After a Date 00:24:03 Do Men and Women Date Differently? 00:25:14 Why Situationships Are Everywhere 00:27:02 Avoidance Disguised as “Going Slow” 00:30:17 Love Bombing vs Real Interest 00:31:24 Why Setting Boundaries Feels Impossible 00:32:19 Why Women Seek Approval to Be Chosen 00:33:52 How to Spot Someone Ready for Love 00:35:27 Why You Have to Grieve to Move On 00:37:38 Subtle Red Flags Most People Miss 00:40:42 The Yellow Cab Theory (Timing Beats Love) 00:41:47 Is There Ever a “Right Time” to Date? 00:43:36 Why Triggers Are Actually a Good Thing 00:45:29 When Sharing Trauma Backfires 00:46:50 Beehiiv Ad 00:48:11 Stan Store Ad Read 00:49:25 How Narcissists Use Your Story Against You 00:50:51 When Vulnerability Was Weaponized 00:52:37 The Shark Tank Moment That Changed Everything 00:57:09 Why the “Soft Pivot” Worked When Nothing Else Did 00:58:55 When Your Identity Is Tied to Your Work 00:59:09 “Choose Danger” When You Post Content 01:00:04 Service Business vs Product Business Power 01:01:50 Would She Ever Build Products Again? 01:02:11 When Content Became a Real Media Business 01:03:13 Why Followers Don’t Equal Money 01:04:11 The Fear of Losing Everything 01:05:28 Sabrina’s Next Growth Chapter 01:06:59 Last Thing She Put on Her Credit Card 01:07:10 Most Expensive Thing She’s Bought 01:07:22 Walk or Dinner on a First Date? 01:07:23 Coffee or Walk on a First Date? 01:07:33 Favorite Comfort Creator 01:08:19 Favorite Celebrity Relationship 01:08:40 Celebrity Couples That Should Break Up 01:08:54 Creator Brands She Respects 01:09:21 Naming This Season of Her Life 01:10:00 Where to Find Sabrina ⸻ Episode Sponsors: Shopify - http://Shopify.com/HSR beehiiv - http://www.beehiiv.com/hsr?utm_campaign=hsr-2026-Partnership&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=hsr&utm_term=2026-02-11&stripe_campaign_code=HSR30 Stan - http://getstanley.ai/maggie ⸻ Follow Sabrina Zohar: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sabrina.zohar Podcast: www.instagram.com/thesabrinazoharshow ⸻ Hot Smart Rich: Join 250,000+ angels and subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter: https://hotsmartrich.com/subscribe Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset: https://shorturl.at/pJWLc Merch: https://hotsmartrich.shop/YouTube: https://shorturl.at/IXXFZInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hotsmartrich/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hotsmartrich Maggie Sellers Reum:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maggiesellersreum/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maggiesellersreumLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sellersmaggie/Locker: https://www.wantlocker.com/users/maggiesellers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Valeria Lipovetsky signed a prenup at 21 and navigated an 18-year age-gap marriage. She reveals how she turned her real-life story into content, building a media empire reaching over 150M people each month. Maggie and Valeria explore how early conversations around marriage, money, and independence shaped the way Valeria built her career - and ultimately led to the creation of Creator Method, her framework for helping creators turn content into sustainable businesses. Valeria breaks down what successful creators do differently to last long-term: using vulnerability with intention, navigating public judgement, and growing with the support of their community. She also reflects on how failure, missteps, and knowing when to pivot played a key role in everything she’s built. Timestamps: 00:00:00  Intro  00:01:58 How Valeria Reached 150M+ People a Month 00:02:30 “I Had a Fear of Attention Growing Up” 00:03:34 Growing Up Between Russia & Canada With A Powerful Mum 00:04:52 Modelling Around the World at Just 16 00:06:02 Getting Married at 20: How I Met My Husband 00:07:35 “Your Life Is Your Art” The Mindset That Changed Everything 00:09:35 The Moment $10K Turned My Content Into a Business 00:11:40 I Had No Idea How Talented I Was 00:13:57 How Creators Build a Real Bond With Their Community 00:15:40 It Took Me 7 Years to Call Myself an Entrepreneur 00:16:37 When to Pivot: What the Kardashians Get Right 00:19:09 Why I Wanted to Start My Own Businesses 00:20:17 Why I Celebrate Failure (With Champagne) 00:21:50 What Posting Online Taught Me About Myself 00:22:30 Why I Chose to Go Back to Content Creation 00:23:24 Is There Something Deeper Driving You? 00:26:04 Being Compared to Tony Robbins & Creating The Creator Method 00:30:13 What Actually Makes a Creator Stand Out Today 00:32:22 The Future of the Creator Economy 00:33:38 Beehiiv Ad 00:35:00 My Framework for Starting Over 00:35:21 How to Start When You Have a Business Idea 00:36:13 Maggie’s Biggest Regret 00:36:57 Why Your 20s Aren’t Just About Making Mistakes 00:38:58 Our Marriage Dynamic Today 00:40:07 What Really Happens in an Age-Gap Relationship 00:41:45 “I Want My Husband to Lead” 00:43:17 Power, Decisions & Equality in Our Marriage 00:45:58 Disagreeing in Public & Handling Criticism 00:48:18 The Unspoken Rules That Hold Our Marriage Together 00:49:31 Signing a Prenup at 21: My Experience 00:52:14 How I Feel About Our Prenup 14 Years Later 00:56:05 How We Think About Money as a Couple 00:57:20 Taking Big Financial Risks (Without Being a Finance Expert) 00:58:57 The Last Thing I Put on My Credit Card 00:59:31 More Followers or Higher Engagement? 00:59:42 Instagram, YouTube, or Podcast? Pick One 01:00:10 How Many Photos Are on My Phone? 01:01:45 Canada or the US? 01:01:50 If I Had to Name This Season of My Life… ⸻ Episode Sponsor: beehiiv - Use code HSR30 at http://www.beehiiv.com/hsr?utm_campaign=hsr-2026-Partnership&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=hsr&utm_term=2026-02-04&stripe_campaign_code=HSR30 ⸻ Follow Valeria Lipovetsky: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valerialipovetsky Website: https://valeriainc.com/ ⸻ Hot Smart Rich: Join 250,000+ angels and subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter: https://hotsmartrich.com/subscribe Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset: https://shorturl.at/pJWLc Merch: https://hotsmartrich.shop/ YouTube: https://shorturl.at/IXXFZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hotsmartrich/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hotsmartrich Maggie Sellers Reum:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maggiesellersreum/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maggiesellersreum LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sellersmaggie/ Locker: https://www.wantlocker.com/users/maggiesellers ShopMy: https://shopmy.us/maggiesellers Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/maggiesellers  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kirsty Godso is the trainer behind Olivia Rodrigo, Hailey Bieber and Kaia Gerber. After 13.5 years inside Nike, she became the face of Vuori through a multi-million-dollar brand partnership. She reveals what celebrities actually do to build their bodies, why most high-intensity workouts fail, how she sets goals for clients, the truth about protein products, common keto mistakes, and the red flags hiding in “healthy” foods - plus her take on Alo, Lululemon and why the athleisure industry keeps rapidly growing. 00:00:00 Intro 00:02:23 Celebrity Trainer: What Wellness Really Means 00:03:08 Why Women Say Wellness & Men Say Fitness 00:03:50 I Never Planned To Train Hailey Bieber & Kaia Gerber 00:04:55 How Nike Discovered Me 00:07:24 Inside The Billion-Dollar Athleisure Wars (Nike vs Alo vs Vuori) 00:08:41 Why Alo Looks Tacky 00:10:16 What's Wrong With Lululemon 00:11:17 How Vuori Grew 44% While Other Brands Stalled 00:13:32 Do Celebrity Deals Really Build Athleisure Brands? 00:17:03 Why 2016 HIIT Culture Broke Women’s Bodies 00:18:29 How Many HIIT Workouts You Should Actually Do 00:20:31 How I Set Goals For Kaia Gerber & Olivia Rodrigo 00:22:22 The Two Workout Mistakes Everyone Makes 00:23:44 Why I Never Set Weight-Loss Goals 00:26:49 The Goal-Setting Lesson That Changed Everything 00:28:46 beehiiv Ad 00:30:07 How Stress & Hyperfixation Ruin Results 00:32:42 Why Exercise Is Back As The #1 Resolution 00:34:35 Kirsty’s Take On The New Body Era 00:35:55 Celebrity Protein Brands — What’s Really Going On? 00:38:06 Protein Label Red Flags (Don’t Buy This) 00:40:18 What I Throw Out Of Clients’ Kitchens 00:43:15 Why Most People Quit Before Results Show 00:45:23 “You’re A 6/10” - The Mindset Shift That Works 00:47:11 Tough Love vs Self-Trust In Motivation 00:50:51 Cozy Earth Ad 00:51:57 Hoffman, Trauma & My Need For Control 00:58:26 Leaving Nike: Realising My Success Was Always Me 01:00:19 The Signs It’s Time To Leave Your Job 01:02:31 The Truth Behind My $2M Vuori Deal 01:04:14 When The Internet Finds Out Your Worth 01:05:49 Why I’m Betting On My Own Businesses Now 01:08:23 Femininity, Fashion & Body Confidence 01:10:56 Dating In LA & “Hot Smart Foreign” 01:14:10 Rapid Fire: Range Rover, Coffee & Cold Plunges 01:16:03 “Burn 2.0” - Naming This Season Of Life 01:16:43 Where To Find Kirsty Godso 01:16:49 What HSR Should Help Her With Next ⸻ Episode Sponsors: beehiiv - Use code HSR30 at http://www.beehiiv.com/hsr?utm_campaign=hsr-2026-Partnership&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=hsr&utm_term=2026-01-28 Cozy Earth - http://cozyearth.com with code HSR, or until February 8th you can Buy One Get One Free on pajamas with code: HSRBOGO ⸻ . 50% off your first month of Pyro when signing up for a monthly membership using code HOT50. Users can use this link and it will automatically apply at checkout for them:https://pyro.kirstygodso.com/register?promocode=HOT50&plan=6705c9272ca6753176671a442 . 15% off an order of Made Of Protein with code HSR used at checkout on:https://madeof.life ⸻ Follow Kirsty Godso:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kirstygodsoWebsite: https://www.kirstygodso.com/ ⸻ Hot Smart Rich: Join 250,000+ angels and subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter: https://hotsmartrich.com/subscribe Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset: https://shorturl.at/pJWLc Merch: https://hotsmartrich.shop/ YouTube: https://shorturl.at/IXXFZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hotsmartrich/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hotsmartrich Maggie Sellers Reum:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maggiesellersreum/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maggiesellersreum LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sellersmaggie/ Locker: https://www.wantlocker.com/users/maggiesellers ShopMy: https://shopmy.us/maggiesellers Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/maggiesellers  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is Sephora losing its crown? How is Olive Young rewriting beauty retail? And should you really be using AI to plan your menstrual cycle - including when to date? Creators are turning their knowledge into paid AI advisors. Mel Robbins is building a protein empire. Founders are publicly sharing revenue and fundraises. And GAP hiring a Chief Entertainment Officer may redefine how brands grow in 2026… In this episode, Maggie and Katie break down their hottest 2026 predictions - so you can spot what’s next before everyone else does. Maggie & Katie discuss: . Sephora vs Ulta vs Olive Young and the new beauty status symbol . Korea’s speed-to-shelf advantage and trend-first retail . Scheduling your business and dating life around your cycle (and using AI to do it) . The “everything shower” and why beauty admin is a mental health reset . Paid AI advisors, AI therapy, and the creator IP problem . Why “human verified” will beat the blue check . Founders disclosing revenue, salaries, and fundraises in 2026 . Why being disliked is a badge of honour (and why it works) . Why VC is dying for consumer brands and family offices are rising . The brands that will win by entertaining, not selling . Celebrity “beauty brands” are over: protein is next Breaking News About Sephora x Olive Young Partnership: Sephora newsroom - https://newsroom.sephora.com/sephora-and-olive-young-partner-to-bring-the-best-of-korean-beauty-to-sephora-consumers/ Business of Fashion:: https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/beauty/sephora-olive-young-partnership-2026/ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 01:38 The “Everything Shower” Reset - When Self-Care Becomes Survival 02:35 Why Balance Doesn’t Exist – Scheduling Life Around Your Cycle 04:14 Using AI to Plan Your Cycle, Work and Dating Life 05:14 Would You Pay for AI Therapy? The Tony Robbins AI Debate 07:40 AI Will Replace Therapy - Why We Disagree 09:04 Human-Verified Will Beat the Blue Checkmark 09:37 AI Copycats, Idea Theft and the Future of Originality 11:36 Is Sephora Losing Its Crown? 12:15 Olive Young’s Korean Playbook Changing Beauty Retail 13:53 Why Korean Brands Move Faster Than Sephora 15:53 Trend-First Stores – The Olive Young Advantage 16:42 Why Sephora Isn’t Adapting Fast Enough 18:08 Product-First Consumers Are Rewriting Beauty 18:45 The Coming Shake-Up in the Beauty Industry 19:16 beehiiv Ad Read 20:37 Founders Building in Public 21:37 Why Humans Crave Connection More Than Ever 22:34 Should Founders Share Revenue and Salaries? 24:48 The Hidden Cost of Radical Transparency 26:07 Being Disliked as a Badge of Honor 27:42 You Can’t Find Your Audience Without Criticism 30:48 Cozy Earth Ad Read 31:53 Why Family Offices Are Replacing VCs 36:23 Steven Bartlett’s Groq Investment – Low Effort, High Impact 37:11 Pitching VCs Is a Waste of Time IF… 38:02 Brands Must Entertain, Not Sell - GAP’s Pivot! 40:11 The Two Influencers Every Brand Should Study 41:56 Celebrity Protein Is the New Beauty Boom 43:51 Mel Robbins, Khloe Kardashian and the Protein Gold Rush 47:00 How Should We End Podcast Episodes Better? Episode Sponsors: beehiiv - Use code HSR30 at http://www.beehiiv.com/hsr?utm_campaign=hsr-2026-Partnership&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=hsr&utm_term=2026-01-21 Cozy Earth - http://cozyearth.com with code HSR ⸻ Hot Smart Rich: Join 250,000+ angels and subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter: https://hotsmartrich.com/subscribe Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset: https://shorturl.at/pJWLc Merch: https://hotsmartrich.shop/ YouTube: https://shorturl.at/IXXFZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hotsmartrich/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hotsmartrich Maggie Sellers Reum: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maggiesellersreum/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maggiesellersreum LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sellersmaggie/ Locker: https://www.wantlocker.com/users/maggiesellers ShopMy: https://shopmy.us/maggiesellers Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/maggiesellers ⸻ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jaclyn Johnson built her company, Create & Cultivate, from nothing - and later sold it for a $22 million exit!  But life changed completely when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2025. The success she worked for left her burned out, depressed, and forced to start over. What followed was a total reset. Divorce. Moving cities alone. Hiring a dating coach. Rebuilding her identity at 40… Today, Jaclyn has successfully bought her original business back, has launched 2 more and continues her work as a longtime angel investor, having backed and championed female founders throughout her career. She reveals how she spots winning startups, why staying bootstrapped was her biggest business mistake, and how money changed the way people treated her. Jaclyn Discusses:  Your Body Keeps the Receipts: How her breast cancer diagnosis made her realise health is her real wealth and what she wishes she’d understood earlier. Reinventing Yourself: How she rebuilt her identity at 40 and how you can do the same when the life you’ve built no longer fits. Angel Investing Wins: How she approaches angel investing, what she looks for in founders, and why one small check can change everything. Timestamps 00:00:00  Intro 00:02:57  Why Starting Over At 40 Felt Like A Gamble 00:05:35  Dating Again At 40 “I Was Too In My Masculine” 00:07:29 Lessons From A Dating Coach - From Anxious Attachment To Secure  00:10:24  I Sold My Company… And My Life Fell Apart 00:13:44 The Strange Sadness After Selling A Business 00:14:53 Can You Build A Huge Business Without Sacrificing Your Life? 00:16:36  Growing Up With Entrepreneur Parents 00:18:47 “You Won’t Build Real Wealth From A 9-5” Jaclyn's Money Rules 00:20:37 The $12,000 Angel Investment That Paid Out Millions 00:22:39 beehiiv Ad  00:24:01 What The Perfect Employee Actually Looks Like Today 00:27:12 I Sold My Company - Then What? 00:33:45  Why Jaclyn Refused To Be CEO Again 00:35:01 Some People Are Built For Stress - Others Aren’t 00:36:29 Jaclyn’s Biggest Regret - Not Raising Venture Capital 00:38:12 Why Women Must Talk About Money Openly 00:40:45 The Money Rules Jaclyn Lives By 00:44:48 How Men And Women Think About Money Differently 00:46:46 How To Pitch Investors Without Selling A Fantasy 00:48:05 Cozy Earth Ad 00:49:11 Should You Start Angel Investing? Here’s How To Know 00:51:29 How To Spot Winning Startups Early 00:52:45 The Smallest And Biggest Cheques She’s Ever Written 00:53:25 How To Break Into Angel Investing Without Capital 00:56:14 Getting Equity By Advising Instead Of Investing 00:57:10 Jaclyn’s Breast Cancer Diagnosis 01:02:41 How Cancer Changed Her Relationship With Money And Success 01:03:53 When Your Body Forces You To Pay Attention 01:05:28 The Advice She Says Could Save Your Life 01:08:18 How To Stop Falling Back Into Dark Periods 01:09:30 Rapid Fire: Credit Cards, Therapy & First Class Flights 01:12:21 Where To Find Jaclyn Online Episode Sponsors: . beehiiv - http://www.beehiiv.com/hsr?utm_campaign=hsr-2026-Partnership&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=hsr&utm_term=2026-01-14 . Cozy Earth - http://cozyearth.com with code HSR ⸻ Hot Smart Rich: Join 250,000+ angels and subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter: https://hotsmartrich.com/subscribe Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset: https://shorturl.at/pJWLc Merch: https://hotsmartrich.shop/YouTube: https://shorturl.at/IXXFZInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hotsmartrich/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hotsmartrich Maggie Sellers Reum:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maggiesellersreum/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maggiesellersreumLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sellersmaggie/Locker: https://www.wantlocker.com/users/maggiesellersShopMy: https://shopmy.us/maggiesellersAmazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/maggiesellers  ⸻ Follow Jaclyn Johnson: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaclynrjohnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steven Bartlett, the host of The Diary Of A CEO, opens up about something he rarely talks about: his relationship. He’s just announced he is engaged to be married! And his take is simple: independence isn’t the flex we think it is! If you want that dream life, you’re going to need someone to build it with! We dive into the mental frameworks that have made Steven the success he is today and why his quitting framework is your 2026 super power. And if you're a creator or an aspiring creator you’re going to want to listen to this! This is the perfect episode for setting your goals and intentions for your most ambitious year yet. ⸻ Timestamps 00:00:00 Intro00:02:26 Why Steven Never Wears Shoes 00:03:46 Handling Pressure: The Lesson Padel Taught Steven00:07:28 Confidence Rituals That Work00:08:40 Steven’s Mental State (Cold + Rational)00:11:03 Why Steven Stays Emotionally Neutral00:12:19 Making Decisions Without Certainty00:14:49 Your Best/Worst Decision Is People (Hiring Truth)00:16:56 The Culture Test Steven Swears By (FlightStory)00:19:43 “Paper Walls”: The Invisible Rules Holding You Back00:26:54 Childhood Failure Creates Adult Confidence00:28:05 People-Pleasing Keeps You Trapped00:30:01 Shopify Ad00:31:23 Maggie’s First Upload (Online Ridicule)00:32:56 Steven’s 3 Rules for Hot Smart Rich00:36:58 Why Thinking About Death Is Liberating00:38:25 How to Find Your Mission (Stack Small Wins)00:44:39 Can Anyone Be a Creator?00:45:28 The 1% Rule That Built a Global Podcast00:49:24 Steven’s Quit Framework00:53:50 Embarrassment Is the Price of Entry (Creators)00:56:01 First Principles: How Steven Thinks01:00:10 How to Build Yourself Into a Top Creator00:58:07 Those 3 Pinned Posts Explained01:01:19 Bilt Ad01:02:23 Cozy Earth Ad01:03:29 Why Those 3 Photos Are Pinned (Meaning)01:04:40 A Voice Note From Mel01:06:32 “Romantic Independence” Is a Mistake01:09:33 Make Dependency Sexy Again (Relationship ROI)01:11:50 What a Successful Relationship Actually Takes01:14:27 Conflict Resolution That Works01:16:00 “I Felt Like the Failure” (Steven’s Childhood)01:17:01 Youngest Sibling Energy: Bend the World01:20:42 The Spider & The Barrier (Breaking Paper Walls)01:23:14 Why Advice Doesn’t Land01:23:55 Not Knowing Early Is a Superpower01:26:08 Rapid Fire: Last Thing You Bought01:26:24 “WAIT… YOU’RE ENGAGED?!”01:26:57 Why Steven Finally Chose Commitment01:28:29 The Engagement Ring Story01:28:58 Describe the Ring (Details)01:30:09 Avoidant Attachment & Changing Your Pattern01:31:53 Modern Dating: Too Many Options, Less Love 01:35:11 Fatherhood: Trusting the Next Chapter01:37:29 How Marriage Changed Maggie01:40:03 Love + Ambition Can Coexist01:42:54 More Rapid Fire01:43:19 Steven’s Favourite DOAC Episode01:44:35 Eggs or Watermelon Forever?01:44:52 Working With a Superfan01:46:24 Steven’s Favourite Podcast01:47:03 What He’d Call This Season of His Life01:47:54 Steven’s Biggest Achievement (Explain Like You’re 10)01:49:16 How Can Hot Smart Rich Help You Right Now Shopify - http://Shopify.com/HSR Bilt - http://joinbilt.com/hsr Cozy Earth - http://cozyearth.com with code HSR ⸻ Hot Smart Rich: Join 250,000+ angels and subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter: https://hotsmartrich.com/subscribe Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset: https://shorturl.at/pJWLc Merch: https://hotsmartrich.shop/ YouTube: https://shorturl.at/IXXFZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hotsmartrich/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hotsmartrich Maggie Sellers Reum: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maggiesellersreum/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maggiesellersreum LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sellersmaggie/ Locker: https://www.wantlocker.com/users/maggiesellers ShopMy: https://shopmy.us/maggiesellers Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/maggiesellers  ⸻ Follow Steven Bartlett: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steven Diary Of A CEO: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDiaryOfACEO Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What engagement rings are actually worth investing in through 2026? And is lab-grown worth it? Ring Concierge founder Nicole Wegman - who built a $100M+ jewelry brand with diamonds - joins Maggie to break down the trends shaping engagement rings right now, the lab-grown vs natural diamond debate, and why “engagement season” creates so much pressure. She also shares the real founder story behind Ring Concierge: starting with $2,000, bootstrapping to $100M+ in sales, and what it takes to scale from scrappy entrepreneur to CEO without losing the aesthetic, the community, or yourself. We also talk about the unspoken side of success - how money and reputation can change the people around you - and why Nicole built a nine-figure business without outside investment by designing around what women actually want: clarity, taste, trust, and a brand that feels like you. ⸻ Timestamps 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:50 Why Engagement Season Feels So Intense 00:02:43 The Social Media Ring Pressure Nobody Admits 00:04:30 Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez & The New Ring Trends 00:06:12 Designer vs CEO: What Nicole Calls Herself 00:07:30 The Most Expensive Rings I’ve Ever Sold 00:08:14 The Ring Styles That Hold Their Value 00:08:34 Lab-Grown vs “Real” Diamonds: The Truth 00:11:36 The Real Average Cost of an Engagement Ring 00:12:28 How De Beers Shaped “Real” Diamonds 00:13:48 Engagement Rings Are Status Symbols (Let’s Be Honest) 00:14:31 How To Tell Your Partner You Want A Different Ring 00:15:46 Starting Ring Concierge In The Diamond District 00:17:05 Entering A High-Cost Industry Without Big Money 00:18:11 How Nicole Turned $2,000 Into $100M+ 00:19:18 Building 1M Followers On A Luxury Brand Account 00:21:09 Why I Didn’t Build A Personal Brand Until Now 00:23:00 Personal Brand: Honest, Unfiltered, And A Working Mum 00:24:17 How To Stay “Luxury” While Showing Real Life 00:25:18 Why You Should Test New Opportunities 00:26:30 Who Ring Concierge Is Really For (And Why It Works) 00:27:24 Beehiiv Ad Read 00:28:46 Influencer ROI: How We Choose Who To Work With 00:31:07 Why I Shared $100M Revenue (And What It Changed) 00:33:46 Bootstrapping & Why I Didn’t Raise Money 00:35:06 The Sacrifices No One Talks About (Including Kids) 00:35:59 The Real Advice: Hard Work, Luck, And Timing 00:37:06 Two Entrepreneurs, One Marriage: How We Make It Work 00:39:05 People Treated Me Differently After $100M Went Public 00:41:42 Taking Investment: Why Webster Capital Made Sense 00:43:15 When Men Started Treating Me Differently 00:45:00 I Don’t Have A Board… And That Might Be A Mistake 00:45:59 The Book That Made Me Start With $2,000 00:46:31 The Scaling Books I Recommend Now 00:48:40 The $500K Mistake I’ll Never Repeat 00:51:08 The Jessica Alba Lesson: Your Team Must Evolve 00:52:41 What I Look For In Every Hire: Grit, Pivot, No Ego 00:54:56 Rapid Fire Questions Sponsored by: Beehiiv - Use code HSR30 for 30% off Link: https://www.beehiiv.com/hsr?utm_campaign=hsr-2026-Partnership&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=hsr&utm_term=2025-12-31 ⸻ Hot Smart Rich: Join 250,000+ angels and subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter: https://hotsmartrich.com/subscribe Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset: https://shorturl.at/pJWLc Merch: https://hotsmartrich.shop/ YouTube: https://shorturl.at/IXXFZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hotsmartrich/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hotsmartrich Maggie Sellers Reum: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maggiesellersreum/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maggiesellersreum LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sellersmaggie/ Locker: https://www.wantlocker.com/users/maggiesellers ShopMy: https://shopmy.us/maggiesellers Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/maggiesellers ⸻ Follow Nicole Wegman: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsnicolewegman Ring Concierge: https://ringconcierge.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michelle Battersby has built a career around creating products that improve the lives of women. From launching Bumble in Australia, to building and selling her own tech company to Fanfix, and now becoming President of the largest women’s network for moms, all while 30 weeks pregnant, Michelle has consistently disproven the 86% of women who believe motherhood will jeopardize their career. Raised in a hyper-competitive household with Olympian parents, Michelle reflects on how her identity has been shaped by ambition and challenged by cultural expectations, tall poppy syndrome, and motherhood, while building apps for women, by women. Plus, Michelle brings her 7 week old baby, Bobby, on the podcast to live breastfeed to prove that yes, women really can do it all.  Michelle discusses: Tall Poppy Syndrome & Female Visibility: How cultural discomfort with ambitious women shows up as judgement, self-policing, and pressure to stay small - especially in Australia. Motherhood, Career & the Myth of ‘Having It All’: What pregnancy and postpartum taught Michelle about leadership, resilience, and why motherhood doesn’t weaken ambition - it sharpens it. Women’s Bodies, Confidence & Control: Why society sexualises women’s bodies but shames their biology - and why reclaiming ownership is an act of leadership. ⸻ Timestamps (00:00:00) Intro (00:02:13) Finding My Purpose Building for Women (00:04:19) Growing Up with Olympian Parents (00:06:06) How I Changed My Relationship with Failure (00:07:48) The Power of Naivety at Bumble (00:10:11) Building a Personal Brand Before You’re Ready (00:14:53) Tall Poppy Syndrome Explained (00:18:16) Did Moving to the US Change Me? (00:19:21) Being a Woman in Australia vs the US (00:20:32) Matrescence: Losing Yourself After Birth (00:26:17) BeeHiiv Ad[00:27:38] Why I Built a Business for Women (00:30:48) Sunroom: Pushing Boundaries Online (00:33:07) Posting My Body and Being Respected (00:34:38) Breastfeeding Live on a Podcast (00:37:07) The Fear of Pressing Upload (00:38:40) Investor Pushback? (00:39:28) Why Breastfeeding Is Still Shamed (00:40:49) Disclosing Pregnancy During Interviews (00:43:42) 3 Leadership Lessons from Motherhood (00:45:14) Pregnancy Didn’t Kill My Ambition (00:47:49) I Thought Being a Mum Would Ruin My Career (00:50:27) You Can’t Achieve with an Incompetent Partner (00:53:28) Man's Role In First 1000 Days of Parenting (00:56:46) How Motherhood Makes You Better at Work (01:01:20) Going From Founder to Employee (01:09:18) How Can Someone Be Like You? Final Advice (01:12:11) Quick Fire Questions Sponsored by: Beehiiv - Use code HSR30 for 30% off Link: https://www.beehiiv.com/hsr?utm_campaign=hsr-2026-Partnership&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=hsr&utm_term=2025-12-24 ⸻ Hot Smart Rich: Join 250,000+ angels and subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter: https://hotsmartrich.com/subscribe Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset: https://shorturl.at/pJWLc Merch: https://hotsmartrich.shop/ YouTube: https://shorturl.at/IXXFZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hotsmartrich/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hotsmartrich Maggie Sellers Reum: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maggiesellersreum/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maggiesellersreum LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sellersmaggie/ Locker: https://www.wantlocker.com/users/maggiesellers ShopMy: https://shopmy.us/maggiesellers Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/maggiesellers  ⸻ Follow Michelle Battersby: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michellebattersby/ ⸻ Hot Smart Rich is your place to hear unfiltered conversations with the people shaping the future of culture, creators, startups and community. Hosted by Maggie Sellers Reum, investor and media powerhouse, and guests breaking the mold, you’ll get the real deal as it relates to navigating the startup fast lane, leveling up your life or becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self. New episodes weekly on Wednesdays. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices