Today I am joined by Sarah Penner! Sarah is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary and The London Séance Society. Her books have been translated into more than forty languages and her debut, The Lost Apothecary, has sold over one million copies worldwide.

A graduate of the University of Kansas, Sarah spent thirteen years in corporate finance and now writes full-time. In her free time, Sarah enjoys hiking, yoga, and cooking. She also sits on the Board of Directors at her local animal shelter, Friends of Strays. Sarah and her husband, Marc, live in Florida.

In this episode, Sarah and I talk about her career in finance, how she became a NYT Bestselling author, her writing process, her first book (that didn't get published), what's next for her, and so much more! You all are going to love Sarah!

Sarah's Website

Sarah's Instagram

Friends of Strays

Today I am joined by Lauren Stephens! Lauren is the Co-Founder and CEO of Dudley Stephens, a sustainable fashion brand she launched in 2015 alongside her sister, Kaki McGrath, and their mother, Bonnie Dudley. Drawing from her background in fashion and beauty public relations with brands like Gucci, Calvin Klein, L'Oréal, and Lancôme, Lauren envisioned a line of elevated everyday essentials crafted from recycled materials. Under Lauren's leadership, Dudley Stephens has transformed from a family side hustle into a multimillion-dollar enterprise with a cult following. The brand is renowned for its signature fleece turtlenecks and commitment to sustainability, having repurposed over seven million plastic bottles through its innovative use of recycled fabrics. Beyond her executive role, where she oversees design, Lauren serves as the creative force behind the brand's social media, editorial content and marketing strategies. She also co-hosts the podcast "Two Sisters in Business," where she shares insights into entrepreneurship and sustainable fashion.

A native of Darien, Connecticut, now living in Greenwich, Lauren balances her professional endeavors with family life, often sharing glimpses of both on her Instagram @laurendudleystephens.

Lauren and I talked about her career in luxury fashion PR, starting a family business, how she forecasts demand, customer retention vs. customer acquisition, the iconic Dudley Stephens' turtleneck, her new podcast, and so much more!

Lauren's Instagram

Dudley Stephens Instagram

Dudley Stephens Website

Bundles of Joy

Two Sisters in Business

Today I am joined by Anne Cynar! Anne is an e-commerce entrepreneur based in New York City. She is the founder of Pickleball Prep, a manufacturer of pickleball paddles, bags, apparel and gifts.

Prior to founding her company, Anne graduated from Yale University in 2000 and worked at The Corcoran Group in New York City. She stepped away from her career in 2010 to focus on family and raise her children. Coming back to the corporate world almost 15 years later with a fresh perspective, she created her company in January 2024.

As a mother of two with a lifelong passion for sports, wellness, and nutrition, Anne has always believed in the power of movement to support a healthy lifestyle, foster self-discipline, and build community.

She created her company to encourage outdoor time, human connection, and healthy movement. In addition to adult paddles, she also made sure to design kids' paddles, to support families who want to play together, move together, and make amazing memories together, across all generations.

In this episode, Anne and I talked about her decision to stay home while her kids were little, why she chose pickleball, the beginning stages of owning a product based business, why it's never too late to follow your dreams, and so much more!

Pickleball Prep Instagram

Pickleball Prep Website

Hudson's Helping Hands