Bree McKeen: Founder & CEO of Evelyn & Bobbie

Tolerate discomfort? Not today. ✨
On The Kara Goldin Show, I sit down with Bree McKeen, Founder and CEO of Evelyn & Bobbie — the intimates brand reimagining what women should expect from their bras.
Bree’s own experience as a 34G woman dealing with tension headaches, shoulder pain, and posture issues led her to question one of the most worn — and least questioned — items in a woman’s wardrobe.
We talk about how she left a finance career to reinvent the bra from the inside out, developed Evelyn & Bobbie’s patented EB Core® wire-free support technology, and built a brand focused on comfort, confidence, inclusivity, and real product innovation.
If you’re interested in founders solving real customer pain points and challenging industries that accepted “good enough” for too long, check out the interview on my podcast. You can find it here or anywhere you listen to podcasts 🎧

Kevin Gianni: Co-founder & CEO of Annmarie Skin Care & Salt + Blue

What does it really take to build a brand that lasts—not just through growth, but through every stage that follows?
On The Kara Goldin Show, I sit down with Kevin Gianni, Co-Founder and CEO of Annmarie Skin Care—a clean beauty brand built on ingredient transparency, thoughtful growth, and a commitment to doing things differently.
We talk about how Kevin built Annmarie Skin Care long before “clean beauty” became a buzzword, why he believes in making fewer, better bets instead of chasing growth at all costs, and what inspired him to launch his second company, Salt + Blue, after more than 16 years of entrepreneurship.
We also dive into what consumers should really look for in skincare, how to build trust in a crowded category, why saying “no” is one of the most important skills a founder can develop, and the lessons Kevin has learned through every season of building a business.
If you’re interested in building an enduring brand, leading through change, or learning what it really takes to grow a company without losing your values, you’ll want to hear this conversation. You can find it here or anywhere you listen to podcasts. 🎧

Daniel Kiyoi: Co-Founder of Nocturnal Skincare

What happens when you’ve spent years helping build some of the world’s biggest beauty brands—and decide it’s time to create one that’s completely different?
On this episode of The Kara Goldin Show, I’m joined by Daniel Kiyoi, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Nocturnal Skincare. Before launching Nocturnal, Daniel built his career at iconic companies including Estée Lauder, Smashbox Cosmetics, Tarte Cosmetics, TULA, and L’Oréal. After years of helping shape global beauty brands, he set out to build one rooted in something much deeper: intentional design, cultural authenticity, and products that truly perform.
Daniel shares the story behind Nocturnal, a luxury skincare brand inspired by Japandi—the fusion of Japanese minimalism and Scandinavian functionality. We discuss why he and his co-founder spent four years developing the brand before launching, why they chose to begin with a single hero product, and why they believe the future of skincare is about creating fewer, smarter products that work with the skin rather than against it.
We also dive into the unexpected success of the brand’s now cult-favorite Japandi Knot Bag, how Daniel’s Japanese heritage influences everything from product design to storytelling, and what he’s learned about entrepreneurship after years working inside some of the biggest companies in beauty.
Whether you’re a founder, marketer, product builder, or simply fascinated by how meaningful brands are created, this conversation is packed with practical insights on patience, creativity, authenticity, and building a company with a clear point of view.
Now on The Kara Goldin Show.

Caroline Dell: Co-Founder of Goodword

What if your greatest competitive advantage isn’t your product, your funding, or even your experience—but the relationships you’ve built over time?
On this episode of The Kara Goldin Show, I’m joined by Caroline Dell, Co-Founder and CEO of Goodword, an AI-powered relationship management platform helping founders and operators turn their networks into one of their most valuable business assets.
Before launching Goodword, Caroline was a founding executive at Chief, where she helped scale the company from 200 members to 20,000 and more than $120 million in ARR, recruiting 80% of its top-tier talent and helping build one of the fastest-growing female-founded companies to reach unicorn status. Before Chief, she was one of the earliest employees at LOLA and began her career at Bain & Company.
In this episode, Caroline shares what she learned from helping build high-growth companies before becoming a founder herself, why relationships—not transactions—have shaped every stage of her career, and how those experiences inspired her to create Goodword.
We also discuss why AI should strengthen human connection rather than replace it, what founders often misunderstand about networking, how to identify the relationships that matter most, and why investing in your network may be one of the highest-return activities of your career.
Whether you’re building a company, growing your career, raising capital, or simply looking to become a better leader, this conversation is full of practical insights on leadership, relationships, scaling teams, and creating opportunities that last.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
Why Caroline left Chief to co-found Goodword
The lessons she learned helping scale Chief from 200 members to over $120 million in ARR
Why relationships are a founder’s greatest competitive advantage
The difference between networking and building meaningful relationships
How AI can strengthen—not replace—human connection
Why great operators often become exceptional founders
What it takes to recruit and build high-performing teams
Caroline’s advice for founders looking to build lasting careers and companies
If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love for you to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who’s passionate about entrepreneurship, leadership, AI, and building meaningful relationships.
Now on The Kara Goldin Show.

Dr. Whitney Hovenic: Co-Founder of SPOOGE

On The Kara Goldin Show, I sit down with Dr. Whitney Hovenic, double board-certified dermatologist, Mohs surgeon, and Co-Founder of SPOOGE — a mineral SPF brand with serious dermatology expertise, a playful attitude, and a mission to change how people think about daily sun protection.
We talk about why sunscreen has always had a branding problem, what Whitney is seeing in her practice as she treats skin cancer patients — including people in their 20s and 30s — and why Gen Z and Gen Alpha tanning trends have made this conversation more urgent than ever.
Whitney shares how SPOOGE came to be, including the story behind the name, and why she and her co-founder Hillary Schieve wanted to build a brand that makes SPF feel as routine as brushing your teeth. We also get into Hillary’s personal connection to the mission as a kidney transplant recipient on lifelong immunosuppressants, and why daily protection is not optional for so many people.
We also talk about what traditional SPF messaging gets wrong, how humor can help people engage with skin health, and what it takes to create mineral, reef-safe formulas that people actually want to use every day. Plus, Whitney shares what she has learned from SPOOGE’s first year — from editor love and awards to retail traction, medspa reorder rates, TikTok buzz, and strong Amazon performance.
If you’re interested in learning what it takes to build a beauty brand with a serious mission, change behavior around daily SPF, or make skin health feel modern, fun, and approachable — check out the interview on my podcast. You can find it here or anywhere you listen to podcasts 🎧

Ayla Barmmer: Founder & CEO of FullWell

What if the biggest opportunity to improve reproductive health—and even the health of future generations—starts long before pregnancy?
On this episode of The Kara Goldin Show, I sit down with Ayla Barmmer, Founder and CEO of FullWell, a reproductive wellness company setting a new standard for evidence-based nutrition before, during, and after pregnancy.
Ayla is a registered dietitian with more than 20 years of experience specializing in fertility nutrition. After years of working with patients, she recognized a major gap between what science supported and what consumers were being told about reproductive health and supplements. That realization led her to build FullWell, a company dedicated to creating clinically backed nutrition designed to support fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause, and beyond.
In this episode, Ayla shares why reproductive health deserves a much bigger place in the wellness conversation, how nutrition impacts fertility for both women and men, and why the choices we make today may influence health for generations to come.
We also discuss the supplement industry, how consumers can separate science from marketing, what it takes to build trust in a crowded wellness category, and Ayla’s journey from clinician to entrepreneur.
Whether you’re thinking about starting a family, interested in longevity and preventive health, or building a mission-driven company, this conversation is packed with practical insights on nutrition, leadership, entrepreneurship, and creating meaningful impact.

Lauren Bartholomeusz: Co-Founder of KeraFactor

What if the future of hair restoration isn’t another shampoo or supplement—but real science?
On this episode of The Kara Goldin Show, I sit down with Lauren Bartholomeusz, Co-Founder of KeraFactor, a medical-grade hair restoration company bringing evidence-based innovation to one of the fastest-growing categories in aesthetics and wellness.
Developed after six years of research by board-certified dermatologist Amy Forman Taub, MD, FAAD, and entrepreneur James Bartholomeusz, KeraFactor was created to address the growing need for clinically backed hair restoration solutions. Powered by a proprietary blend of biomimetic growth factors, skin proteins, and advanced compounds, KeraFactor is designed to support healthier, fuller-looking hair while improving overall scalp health.
In this episode, Lauren shares how KeraFactor is changing the conversation around hair restoration, why scalp health plays such an important role in healthy hair, and what consumers often misunderstand about hair loss. We also discuss the importance of building trust in a category filled with marketing claims, expanding a science-driven brand globally, and why education is just as important as innovation.
Whether you’re interested in health, aesthetics, entrepreneurship, or building a company grounded in science, this conversation is packed with practical insights on innovation, leadership, and creating products that solve real problems.
Now on The Kara Goldin Show.

Keith O’Briant: CEO of HYDRINITY

Building skincare from regenerative medicine — that’s the magic ✨
On The Kara Goldin Show, I sit down with Keith O’Briant, CEO of HYDRINITY Accelerated Skin Science — one of the fastest-growing professional skincare brands in the U.S.
We talk about how HYDRINITY began not as a traditional beauty brand, but as a regenerative medicine company developing advanced wound care products and drug delivery systems for oncology and hematology patients. Keith shares how that medical and scientific foundation evolved into a professional skincare brand built around patented injectable-grade hyaluronic acid, proprietary delivery systems, and regenerative technologies designed to support skin health and deliver visible results.
We also get into what “science-backed skincare” really means, why delivery systems matter as much as ingredients, and how consumers can better understand the difference between marketing claims and clinically backed innovation. Keith also shares what he learned from more than 30 years in life sciences, including leadership roles at Pfizer and Shire, and what it has taken to scale HYDRINITY into more than 4,000 professional practices in the U.S. and more than 40 countries globally since launching in 2022.
If you’re interested in learning how regenerative medicine is shaping the future of skincare, what it takes to build a science-first brand in a crowded beauty market, or why professional skincare is entering a whole new chapter — check out the interview on my podcast. You can find it here or anywhere you listen to podcasts 🎧

Alysa Seeland: Founder & CEO of FOND Regenerative

Building a food brand from a health crisis, a farmers market, and one very big fire — that’s the magic ✨
On The Kara Goldin Show, I sit down with Alysa Seeland, Founder and CEO of FOND Regenerative — the Texas-based company making verified regenerative bone broths, traditional demi-glace, and slow-rendered animal fats.
We talk about how Alysa’s journey began after serious digestive issues led to emergency surgery and the possibility of a second procedure. Instead, she chose to rebuild her health from the inside out, discovered the power of bone broth, and eventually sold her first jar of FOND at a Texas farmers market in 2015.
We also get into how FOND grew from farmers markets to independent retail, e-commerce, and now more than 4,000 stores, including Sprouts, H-E-B, Whole Foods Market, and major and independent retailers nationwide. Alysa shares why regenerative agriculture matters, how FOND became the first in its category to earn Land to Market regenerative verification, and what it means to build a product line that supports U.S. family farms.
Plus, Alysa opens up about the 2022 facility fire that destroyed FOND’s manufacturing capacity while the company was attempting to raise a Series A — and how that setback forced a major pivot. She shares why she moved to a co-manufacturer, paused fundraising, and focused on building a profitable company instead.
If you’re interested in learning what it takes to build a mission-driven food brand, scale without compromising your standards, or turn a personal health journey into a company now sold in thousands of stores — check out the interview on my podcast. You can find it here or anywhere you listen to podcasts 🎧

Heidi Zak: Co-Founder & CEO of Thirdlove

Rethinking the bra industry by finally listening to women — that’s the magic. ✨
On The Kara Goldin Show, I sit down with Heidi Zak, Co-Founder and CEO of ThirdLove — the intimate apparel brand that transformed how millions of women shop for bras through better fit, inclusive sizing, and technology.
We talk about how ThirdLove challenged an industry that had gone decades without meaningful innovation, introducing half-cup sizing and creating the online Fitting Room that has helped more than 20 million women find their correct size. Heidi shares why solving a real customer problem—not chasing trends—became the foundation for building one of the most recognized brands in the category.
We also dive into product innovation, expanding beyond bras into new essentials, opening physical retail after years as a digitally native brand, and how customer feedback continues to shape every decision the company makes. Heidi also shares what she’s learned scaling ThirdLove, leading through growth, and building a company focused on helping women feel more comfortable and confident every day.
If you’re interested in building a brand by solving real customer problems, creating products people genuinely love, or scaling a modern consumer company in a rapidly changing retail landscape, you’ll want to hear this conversation. You can find it here or anywhere you listen to podcasts. 🎧