Her Next Money Move. Cardi B is Tired of Making Everyone Else Rich

Emma sits down with Cardi B to talk about what changed once she understood her power. After building in real time—investing her own money and navigating bad deals—she realized she was creating value for everyone but herself. Now stepping into ownership with her haircare brand Grow-Good, she shares how those lessons shaped her approach to partnerships, her shift to equity, and how she’s balancing motherhood, relationships, and ambition while building what’s next.

She Took a Leap of Faith and Built a Billion-Dollar Brand

Monique Rodriguez built Mielle Organics from her basement into a billion-dollar brand—without a blueprint. In this episode of Aspire, she shares the real journey: from bootstrapping with her husband’s paycheck and taking big risks, to navigating criticism and ultimately selling to Procter & Gamble while remaining CEO. More than a business story, it’s about resilience, betting on yourself before you feel ready, and what it truly takes to build and lead something meaningful.

The AI Lessons That Will Change How You Operate

For the latest Career Girl’s Guide, Emma sits down with AI expert Allie K. Miller to break down how to actually use AI to transform your career and business—from smarter prompting to building workflows that save time and elevate how you work. If AI has felt overwhelming, this is your clear, practical starting point to think and operate at a more strategic level. Most people are only scratching the surface—this shows you what’s actually possible.

She Left a $625K Salary to Teach You This (Your Rich BFF)

In this episode, Emma sits down with financial educator and entrepreneur Vivian Tu, also known as Your Rich BFF, to unpack why women still avoid talking about money and what it’s costing them. From Wall Street to walking away from a $625K salary, Vivian shares how to negotiate your pay, build stability before wealth, avoid lifestyle inflation, and shift from earning to building—plus why open conversations about money change everything.

What Growing Up in Chaos Actually Teaches You (Rich Kleiman)

Emma has known Rich Kleiman for over 20 years, but they’d never talked about where he actually came from until now. In this episode of Aspire with Emma Grede, Rich shares how growing up around instability shaped the instincts that helped him build his career. Now the longtime business partner of Kevin Durant and co-founder of Boardroom, he reflects on how chaos became a competitive advantage and why the story you tell yourself can shape everything that comes next.

How to Change Careers Without Starting Over

Sometimes your career can look right on paper but feel completely wrong. Wanting something different isn’t ingratitude, it’s growth. In this episode, Emma breaks down what a real career pivot looks like—not quitting without a plan, but making a strategic move that builds on what you’ve already done. She shares how to tell the difference between burnout and a true signal for change, how to de-risk a pivot, and why being “too late” is a myth.

Why Financial Education is the Best Investment You Can Make

Most of us weren’t taught how to manage money — we were taught not to talk about it. In this episode, Emma sits down with Tori Dunlap to unpack why women are often left out of financial conversations and how early money narratives shape our decisions. They discuss why many women avoid looking at their bank accounts, why waiting until you feel “ready” to invest can cost you long-term wealth, and how financial independence, honest conversations about money, and education are key to building lasting financial security.

Negotiation Expert: Stop Talking Yourself Out of Asking

Mori Taheripour, a leading negotiation expert and Wharton professor, believes negotiation has less to do with conflict and more to do with knowing your worth. In this episode, Emma and Mori explore the fear, guilt, and people-pleasing that often stop us from asking for more, why negotiation is a life skill, and how rejection shapes the way we advocate for ourselves. They also discuss why leverage is often perception and how to ask for more without apology. It’s a conversation for anyone who has ever talked themselves out of asking.

How to Scale While Keeping Your Brand Intact (Kelly Wearstler)

Kelly Wearstler is one of the most influential designers in the world, and her real genius is turning taste into a scalable, multi-million-dollar business that extends beyond interiors into product, licensing, and creative direction. In this episode, Emma explores how she built a 60-person studio, why she values sequence over speed, the strategy behind her work, how she’s integrating AI, investing in leadership, and choosing longevity over hype — a conversation about building something designed to endure.

How to Nail Your Next Interview

In this Career Girl’s Guide episode, Emma breaks down what actually makes someone stand out in the room, sharing the mindset shifts and practical tools that separate average candidates from unforgettable ones — from researching like a strategist and uncovering a role’s hidden pain to mastering a three-part storytelling formula, speaking about failure with authority, negotiating salary with confidence, and asking questions that signal real leadership. This isn’t about being perfect, it’s about being understood and positioned.

Glucose Goddess on Bootstrapping, Control, and Building on Your Own Terms

Today on Aspire, Emma sits down with Jessie Inchauspé, known as The Glucose Goddess, to talk about how a personal health experiment became three bestselling books, a global community, and an eight-figure business built without outside investors, and why she chose to stay independent while turning a personal breakthrough into a global platform. They also discuss protecting founder freedom and choosing slower, intentional growth over outside capital.

How to Turn Rejection into Your Biggest Advantage (Laney Crowell)

Emma sits down with Laney Crowell, founder and CEO of Saie, to unpack what it really takes to build a beauty brand from scratch. They talk about using rejection as fuel, what raising capital as a woman actually requires, the power of intentional hiring and reference checks, and why refining consistently beats rushing growth—plus the realities of building a business while becoming a new mother. It’s a conversation about building before you feel fully ready.

Why Execution Matters More Than The Right Idea With Issa Rae

Issa Rae sits down with Emma to talk about entering a new chapter from experience, not momentum. From execution over ideas to visibility versus real power, Issa shares how saying no, protecting her voice, and treating money as creative freedom are shaping this phase of her career. It’s a conversation about longevity, discernment, and building on your own terms — and what it really takes to keep creating work that lasts without compromising who you are.

Angelica Nwandu Survived the Unthinkable, Then Built The Shade Room

Angelica Nwandu wasn’t supposed to be here, at least not according to the statistics. After losing her mother at six and growing up in foster care, she rebuilt her life from the ground up and went on to found The Shade Room, one of the most influential media platforms in culture. In this intimate conversation, Angelica opens up about resilience, ownership, and what it really takes to build and evolve something with cultural impact.

Simon Sinek: Don’t Be a Toxic Leader

In this conversation, Emma sits down with Simon Sinek to redefine what leadership looks like today. Moving beyond titles and authority, Simon explains why real leadership is rooted in responsibility—creating environments where people feel safe, supported, and able to do their best work. Together, they explore why traditional leadership models are failing, what it means to lead in service of others, and why clarity, not charisma, is the foundation of trust and lasting success.

Dr. Becky: Your Kids Don’t Need a Perfect Mom. They Need a Leader.

In this episode of Aspire, Emma sits down with parenting expert and bestselling author Dr. Becky Kennedy to unpack motherhood, ambition, guilt, and what kids actually need. From redefining “mom guilt” to explaining why kids need sturdy leaders instead of selfless martyrs, this conversation offers clarity, reassurance, and practical perspective for parents who feel stretched thin. You’re not failing—and this episode explains why.

James Clear’s Habits Advice Sold 26M Books, And It Will Change Your 2026

James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, joins Emma to break down how habits, identity, and systems—not motivation—create lasting change. He shares why every action is a vote for the person you’re becoming and how consistency beats intensity every time. This episode is your simple, science-backed reset for the year ahead. One small change today can quietly reshape your entire future.

Mel Robbins: The One Thing That Actually Matters

In this candid conversation, Mel Robbins joins Emma for a powerful discussion about what truly fueled her rise—years of unseen work, mission-driven focus, and a deep commitment to helping others. Together they explore success, purpose, staying grounded, and building something lasting, while Mel shares the mindset shifts behind her work, her evolution as an entrepreneur, and the launch of her new company and first consumer product, Pure Genius.

How Dr. Barbara Sturm Built a Billion Dollar Beauty Brand with No Training

In this episode of Aspire, Emma Grede sits down with Dr. Barbara Sturm to reveal how she went from being dismissed by the beauty industry to building a billion-dollar, anti-inflammatory skincare empire. Barbara shares the risks, mindset, and science behind redefining modern skincare without following the traditional rules. It’s a conversation about conviction, resilience, and believing in your vision long before anyone else does.

The Five Types of Wealth Everyone Needs with Sahil Bloom

Emma sits down with bestselling author and entrepreneur Sahil Bloom to explore the five types of wealth that shape whether life feels meaningful or empty. Sahil shares the wake-up call that led him to reset his life after achieving traditional success but feeling unfulfilled, and breaks down the ideas behind his New York Times bestseller The Five Types of Wealth, including why money matters least.

The Five Lessons That Shook Me This Year

In this solo episode, Emma Grede reflects on the conversations that shaped her first year of Aspire, sharing five key lessons on money, mindset, ambition, and resilience. She revisits moments with founders, cultural icons, and people closest to her that shifted how she thinks and works. It’s a reminder that success is a lifelong practice of learning and unlearning, and a recalibration for anyone feeling stuck or overwhelmed.

Why Doing It All Still Doesn’t Feel Like Enough with Dr. Judith Joseph

You’re juggling work, family, and goals, yet it still never feels like enough. Psychiatrist Dr. Judith Joseph joins Emma to unpack high-functioning depression, the hidden burnout behind success, why overachievers feel empty even while thriving, how “pathological productivity” keeps us stuck, and the science of finding real joy without losing your drive—offering clarity for anyone who feels accomplished but exhausted.

How to Win in the Golden Age of Entrepreneurship

What separates entrepreneurs who start from the ones who win? In this episode, Harley Finkelstein, President of Shopify, shares the hard-earned truths behind building a business that lasts. He explains why execution beats ideas, why now is the golden age of entrepreneurship, and how anyone can begin with limited resources. Harley also breaks down the mindset shifts every founder needs to scale and stay in the game.

The Obsession That Made Her Unstoppable with Charlotte Tilbury

What does it take to turn an obsession into a billion-dollar beauty empire? On this episode of Aspire with Emma Grede, Charlotte Tilbury joins Emma to share how she transformed a childhood fascination with glamour into a global brand. She opens up about the early risks, the breakthroughs that changed everything, and the mindset that keeps her innovating. It’s an inspiring look at what happens when passion meets relentless drive.

Reese Witherspoon: Don’t Let Anyone Control You With Money

Reese Witherspoon may be known as America’s sweetheart, but she’s also built a billion-dollar company that reshaped Hollywood for women. In this episode of Aspire, Emma Grede talks with Reese about stopping the search for permission, taking control of her career, and the lessons she learned about money, ownership, and knowing when it’s time to make a change. It’s a conversation about trusting your instincts and betting on yourself.

He Built the Room They Wouldn't Let Him Into with Steve Stoute

Music mogul and branding visionary Steve Stoute joins Emma to share how he transformed being underestimated into a powerful advantage, using his roots, instincts, and deep connection to culture to build an empire that redefined music, marketing, and business. This conversation is for anyone who’s ever felt their background might hold them back—it’s about turning rejection into momentum and using your story as your competitive edge.

You Can Start That Business. Here’s How.

Starting a business but not sure where to begin? In this solo episode, Emma shares her 10-step blueprint for turning an idea into a profitable brand — from validating your concept to understanding your market, building a strong product, and leading with confidence. No fluff, no big investors — just the mindset and execution founders actually need. If you’re ready to take the leap, this episode is your roadmap. It’s time to stop overthinking and start building.

Become the CEO of Your Own Life: Tracee Ellis Ross on Scaling with Soul

Tracee Ellis Ross shares how the words you choose can shape the life you want. In this conversation with Aspire host Emma Grede, she opens up about using language, therapy, and intention to fuel success in business, creativity, and life — from getting clear on what you want, to speaking with confidence, letting ideas grow, and defining success your own way. If you’re ready to level up your mindset and rewrite your story, this episode is a must-listen.

Start with Yourself: Change Your Mindset, Change Your Life

Doing everything right but still not breaking through? Success isn’t just hard work—it’s mindset. In this solo episode, Emma Grede shares how shifting your thinking, shutting down self-doubt, and celebrating small wins creates real momentum. She covers growth vs. fixed mindset, why gratitude and visualization work, and how to handle fear and criticism. Plus, she announces her new book, START WITH YOURSELF, coming in 2026. If you’re ready to think like a winner, this episode is your sign.

The Power of Personal Branding with Paris Hilton

If you’ve ever wondered how to turn your personal brand into a thriving business, this episode is for you. Paris Hilton joins Emma to share how she turned her image into an empire—long before “influencer” was a thing. From consistency and authenticity to purpose-driven leadership, Paris reveals the blueprint for building a brand that lasts—and the mindset it takes to stay relevant for decades.

Love, Family and Business: How To Work With a Partner with Jens Grede

What’s it really like to be married to your business partner? Emma Grede sits down with her husband, Jens Grede—co-founder of Skims, Frame, and Good American—to share the real highs and lows of building brands while raising a family. They open up about turning love into partnership, the rule that keeps everything running, and why risk and reinvention fuel their success. A must-listen for anyone curious how to build—and sustain—great partnerships in both business and life.

Unlock Your Brain’s Full Potential

What if the key to success and resilience is already in your head? Neuroscientist and MIT lecturer Dr. Tara Swart joins Emma to share how to rewire your brain for clarity, intuition, and peak performance. From stress management to daily habits that boost creativity, focus, and resilience, this episode is a practical guide to making your brain work for you—in work, relationships, and life. It’s proof that you can train your mind to unlock the future you want.

Roadmap Your Goals: A Business Plan for Your Life

On her birthday, Emma shares the system she uses to turn dreams into reality—and how you can too. In this solo episode, she breaks down the 5 questions she asks herself each year, the power of small consistent actions, and how to plan for setbacks so you can build habits that last. If you’ve ever struggled to stick with your goals, this is your roadmap to creating a life you truly love.

Safe Is the Surest Way to Lose: Lessons from Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos

What does it take to reinvent an industry—and yourself? Emma sits down with Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos, who went from a video rental store to leading one of the world’s most powerful entertainment companies. He shares the risks that defined his career, the tough calls that shaped Netflix, and why storytelling is fueled by passion, not algorithms—offering lessons on risk-taking, leadership, and resilience for anyone chasing big dreams.

“Losing” Taught Me Everything: What You Can Learn From This Founder’s Failure

What really happens when your dream doesn’t go as planned? Emma sits down with Diarrha N’Diaye, founder of Ami Colé, to talk about the courage to build, the heartbreak of closing a beloved brand, and the lessons every entrepreneur needs. From the hard truths of the beauty industry to the power of resilience and community, this episode is a must-listen for anyone chasing big dreams.

How to Stop Letting Fear Run Your Life with Dr. Thema

What’s really holding you back from the life you want? Emma Grede sits down with Dr. Thema Bryant to unpack the hidden stories, trauma, and fears that keep us stuck—and how to break free. They explore why we sabotage ourselves, how women are conditioned to shrink, the scars left by the pandemic, and practical tools to set boundaries, rewrite old narratives, and move from surviving to thriving.

How Donna Langley Became the Most Powerful Woman in Entertainment

If you’ve ever felt out of place, doubted your instincts, or wondered how to build a career on your own terms, this episode is for you. Donna Langley shares how she rose from a small-town childhood in England to become one of Hollywood’s most powerful leaders—championing underdog stories, making bold calls on films like Oppenheimer and Fast & Furious, and proving that resilience, decency, and gut instinct can build both a career and a life you love.

Why Your Biggest Gambles Must Always Be On Yourself with Kandi Burruss

If you’ve ever been underestimated, told your ideas were too big, or wondered how to turn life’s next chapter into a win, this episode is for you. Grammy winner and entrepreneur Kandi Burruss shares how she turned setbacks into cultural anthems, balanced motherhood with ambition, and used everything—from hit records to Housewives drama—to build a fearless blueprint for betting on yourself.

Jessica Alba: Why It’s Time to Break Up with Perfection

If you’ve ever felt underestimated, battled mom-guilt, or questioned if balance is possible, this episode is for you. Jessica Alba opens up about the costs of overachievement, building The Honest Company as a mother of three, and stepping away from the brand she built—sharing how childhood health struggles and a fierce drive to protect families shaped her journey and kept her true to herself.

How Lucy Guo Became the World’s Youngest Self-Made Female Billionaire

Emma sits down with Lucy Guo, the world’s youngest self-made female billionaire, to explore her bold journey from teen hacker to co-founder of Scale AI. Lucy shares raw insights on monetizing your passions, securing your worth, and staying authentic—even after being pushed out of her own company. This is your playbook from Silicon Valley’s most unapologetic entrepreneur.

Bozoma Saint John: How to Stop Sabotaging Your Success

In this episode, Bozoma Saint John tells Emma how trusting her gut and refusing to play small took her from assistant to C-suite to founder of Eve by Boz. She shares the mantra her Ghanaian parents drilled into her, how she boldly claimed her wins, and why ditching the five-year plan led to major opportunities. From building a factory in Ghana to centering Black women in beauty, Boz breaks down the power of storytelling, self-belief, and audacious moves.

How Allison Ellsworth Built Poppi Into a Billion-Dollar Brand

What does it really take to turn a kitchen idea into a billion-dollar brand? Emma sits down with Poppi founder Allison Ellsworth to unpack her bold leap from homebrewed soda to a $2B PepsiCo deal. Allison gets real about risking it all, building a social-first brand, and why she ultimately walked away. This episode is a crash course in courage, branding, and knowing when to go all in. If you're sitting on an idea—this is your sign to start.

Mark Cuban’s Blueprint for Startup Success

On this episode of Aspire, Mark Cuban shares what most founders get wrong, the key Day 1 moves every entrepreneur must make, and why understanding AI is now non-negotiable. He also opens up about his own journey—from starting Broadcast.com to making his first billion—and offers real talk on sales, money, mindset, and when it’s actually time to quit your day job.

Charlamagne Tha God: From Broke at 30 to Millionaire Mogul

In this powerful and honest conversation, Charlamagne Tha God joins Emma Grede to reflect on his journey from a troubled past in South Carolina to becoming a major force in media. He opens up about the turning points that changed his life, the mindset behind his success, and the healing he's found through therapy and plant-based medicine. With raw insight, he shares lessons on purpose, peace, masculinity, and why putting his family first is his proudest achievement.

How to Speak So People Will Listen (with Communication Expert Jefferson Fisher)

Emma Grede sits down with trial-lawyer-turned–viral communication coach Jefferson Fisher—author of the New York Times bestseller The Next Conversation—to unpack the single skill that drives every success: how you speak. Together they explore why social-media overload is eroding real dialogue, then trade real-world fixes that work from the boardroom to the dinner table.

Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson: The Power of Knowing Your "Why"

Emma sits down for an intimate, inspiring conversation with former First Lady Michelle Obama and her big brother, Craig Robinson. In this special episode, Michelle and Craig open up about family, leadership, and the values that shaped them, from their early years sharing on Chicago’s South Side to the White House.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex: Why Ambition Is Her Jam

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, isn’t just launching a brand—she’s rewriting what it means to build one under relentless public scrutiny. In her first wide-ranging interview about her new company As Ever, Meghan joins Emma for a candid conversation about the pressure, the pivots, and the power of betting on yourself when the world is watching.

Financial Habits For Success with Nicole Lapin

In this episode of Aspire, Emma dives deep into one of her favorite topics: money! She sits down with bestselling author and financial expert Nicole Lapin to break down why we so often avoid money talk—and how that silence holds us back. Nicole reveals how she conquered her own debt using the “avalanche” method (tackling high-interest balances first) and how to master simple money lingo—ROI, APY, EBITDA—so you never feel lost in a finance convo again.

Emma’s Blueprint: 10 Principles That Can Change Your Life.

In this deeply personal solo episode of Aspire, Emma Grede gets real and shares the ten foundational principles that have shaped her journey as an entrepreneur, leader, and mother. Drawing from over two decades of experience, Emma opens up about the power of embracing vulnerability, leveraging your unique strengths, and facing your past head-on.

Aspire with Jay Shetty: How to Succeed in Business Without Losing Your Soul.

Emma sits down with Jay Shetty—a global media force, a spiritual leader, bestselling author, entrepreneur, and someone who's building a career with no blueprint — all while staying rooted in purpose and inner peace.

Karlie Kloss: How To Turn Principles Into Power Plays.

Model, entrepreneur and media mogul Karlie Kloss sits down with Emma for a rare, wide-ranging conversation about the bold pivots, personal principles, and hard-won lessons that have shaped her journey from the runway to the boardroom. With baby number three on the way, Karlie opens up about the balancing act of motherhood and mogulhood, the trade-offs she makes, and the guilt she’s learned to manage.

The Founder Playbook: How Michael Rubin Built Fanatics by Betting on Obsession.

Emma is joined by the relentless entrepreneur Michael Rubin, founder and CEO of Fanatics for a deep dive into his extraordinary journey from a self-described "god-awful athlete" to one of the most successful business minds in the sports industry. Michael pulls back the curtain on the mindset and drive that fuels his success, revealing how outworking the competition has been a cornerstone of his career.

Mellody Hobson: What I Learned From My Business Hero.

Emma sits down with the number one person she looks up to in business: Mellody Hobson. As Co-CEO of Ariel Investments—a firm managing over $14 billion in assets—Mellody is a powerhouse whose influence stretches far beyond Wall Street.

Gwyneth Paltrow: Why Being Early Is Better Than Being Liked.

Emma sits down with Gwyneth Paltrow for an unfiltered conversation about ambition, evolution, and the emotional toll of leadership.