The Smarter Podcast with Emily Austen

Today’s guest is someone who truly embodies what it means to juggle it all with grit and grace. Erin Dana Lichy was selling real estate developments in New York before she turned 23, went to grad school at NYU for sustainable development, and then threw herself into entrepreneurship—learning the hard way when her first business failed, but using that experience as her “real business school.”Fast forward to today: Erin is a powerhouse. She’s a mom of four, a cast member on The Real Housewives of New York City, the co-founder of a mezcal brand born out of her love for Tulum, and now the author of a beautiful new book that blends her family traditions, entertaining, and food into something inspiring and accessible.In this conversation, she shares her lessons on resilience, building businesses from scratch, balancing motherhood and ambition, and why trusting your gut is the smartest move you can make.This is a story of hustle, reinvention, and doing it all on your own terms. Here’s Erin Dana Lichy—let’s get into it.

Today’s guest is Jodie Harrison – founder of brand consultancy Fell and Scar, and now Chief Brand Officer at Rapha. Before that, she held senior roles at Belstaff, shaping the identity of some of fashion’s most distinctive brands. In this episode, we talk about what it really means to build a brand with soul, the power of emotional storytelling, and the bold decisions that come with stepping away from something that looks perfect on paper. Jodie’s sharp, self-aware, and unfiltered – this one’s for anyone who’s ever wondered what happens when you stop following the expected path and start backing yourself instead.

Today’s guest is Alessia Pasin – Managing Director at Huishan Zhang, one of London’s most exciting luxury fashion houses. In this episode, we talk about her journey from corporate consulting to high fashion, the realities of leading a global brand, and how she balances business strategy with creativity. Alessia shares what it’s really like behind the scenes of a luxury label, the power of intuition in leadership, what she’s learned from motherhood, and why she’s not afraid to do things differently. She’s smart, candid, and full of insights for anyone navigating their own career leap.

Today’s guest is chef Kate Austen – the winner of The Great British Menu 2024, and someone who knows a thing or two about pressure. In this episode, we talk about what it takes to walk away from a steady job in pursuit of something bigger, the mental and physical toll of competing on national TV, and what happens when you go from working behind the scenes to suddenly being in the spotlight. Kate shares the reality of putting your entire career on the line for one main course, how she handled the highs and lows of the process, and what’s next after such a defining moment. She’s also my sister – which means I’ve been taste-testing her experiments long before the judges did.Our sponsor is Happy Mammoth. Head to www.happymammoth.com for 15% off with code SMARTER.

Today’s guest is someone who truly redefined the fitness accessories space. Natalie Holloway is the co-founder of Bala, the brand that turned ankle weights into must-have wellness accessories and became a global movement along the way. After burning out in advertising, Natalie and her husband Max swapped agency life for a sabbatical – and ended up creating one of the most design-forward, purpose-driven fitness brands out there. From bootstrapping and shipping Shark Tank orders by hand, to navigating wild growth, burnout, and building a business with three kids under four – Natalie’s story is as inspiring as it is honest. This one’s for anyone who’s ever Googled 'how to find a factory' at 2am.

Today’s guest is one of those people who makes you sit up, take notes, and seriously question why we’re still doing things the way we are.Tash Grossman is the founder and CEO of Slip, the B2B startup transforming dull, forgettable digital receipts into powerful post-purchase marketing tools. She's a former management consultant who swapped client decks for startup chaos—and did it with the clarity of someone who lives her life on a Google spreadsheet.In this episode, we talk about everything from what inspired the business (hint: it involves a Zara return gone wrong) to the emotional toll of fundraising, hiring, and being a 20-something female founder in a room full of older white men called Paul. Tash shares how she built Slip from a bold idea into a scalable tech business, what she’s learned about leadership, and why she’s more afraid of failure than spiders, heights, or horror movies combined.We also get into the realities of hustle culture, the myth of balance, and why launching a startup young is both a blessing and a strategic advantage. Whether you're deep in founder life or just addicted to ambitious women rewriting the rules, this episode is full of unfiltered lessons, smart thinking, and one very relatable fear of morning sickness ruining a Series A.Our episode sponsor is Happy Mammoth. Head to www.happymammoth.com for 15% off with code SMARTER.