The Après Business Podcast

This week, Rebecca chats with Anna Tedstrom, the creative force behind Hoohah, a bold, retro-inspired ski apparel brand redefining what it means to have fun on the slopes. From sewing vintage suits in her Oakland apartment to launching a full-on brand out of her Colorado basement, Anna’s story is all about creativity, courage, and carving your own path (literally and figuratively).They discussed how Hoohah got its cheeky name, the ...

Rebecca and Emma dig into the messy, emotional, and often overlooked side of entrepreneurship — the pre-launch hustle. Emma opens up about the year and a half she spent designing and developing Allover before launch, surviving without a paycheck, and the gut-wrenching decision to turn down a cushy tech sales job to go all in on her dream.From finding the right designer and navigating the steep learning curve of manufacturing, to bu...

This week, Rebecca sits down with Emma Rosse, the unstoppable founder of Allover Apparel, the brand making overalls cool again (and not just for toddlers or farmers). From slinging canned wine to hustling in solar tech and travel startups, Emma’s done it all — and every step somehow led her to create the perfect trail-to-taproom fit.In this episode, Emma shares how she turned an idea from a rafting trip into a fast-growing apparel ...

In Part 2 of this episode, Madison Hilson and Tina Thomson get candid about the realities of entrepreneurship—debunking myths, sharing the sacrifices they’ve made, and celebrating the proudest milestones of building Seniq. They discuss why flexibility is a false promise, why most founders will be broke for a while, and how leaning on family and community has been crucial to their survival. Madison and Tina also open up about the em...

Welcome back to the Aprés Business Podcast! In this episode, Madison Hilson and Tina Thomson share the early journey of building Seniq, the women-led outdoor brand challenging the status quo of gear design. They open up about how their experiences at Victoria’s Secret and Backcountry trained them to solve real problems for women, why balancing trend with technical function was their big market opportunity, and how mental health and...

We’re back with the incredibly honest and inspiring Kelly Mazanti, founder of Buttnski, the women-led outdoor brand that’s flipping the script on performance gear—starting from the bottom (literally). If Part 1 was all about how it started, this one is all about where it’s going.

Kelly opens up about her plans to build Buttnski into a full head-to-toe lifestyle brand, what she’s learned about sustainability from her partnership with...

Welcome back to the Aprés Business Podcast! In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Rebecca Babicz joins Kelly Mazanti, founder of Buttnski, a women-led outdoor apparel brand that’s all about warm butts, cold mountains, and gear that actually fits. What started as a funny family nickname and a pair of vintage fleece shorts from the 80s turned into a brand that’s rewriting what it means to dress for the outdoors—without compromisin...

Welcome back to the Aprés Business Podcast!In part two of their conversation, Robin and the interviewer explore what it truly means to run a sustainable, values-driven business—without sacrificing quality or overworking the team.They discuss how Robin approaches difficult decisions, such as choosing between recycled materials and durability, maintaining a small yet highly effective team, and genuinely integrating community involvem...

When her job at Smartwool was relocating to Denver, Robin Hall decided to do something a little wild—stay in Steamboat Springs and build a mission-driven kids’ outerwear brand from the ground up.

In this episode, Robin shares the raw, behind-the-scenes story of how Town Hall Outdoor Co. was born: from a career pivot she never planned, to designing gear that actually keeps kids dry, warm, and stoked to be outside.

Whether you’re a par...

In this episode of The Après Business Podcast, host Becca Babicz sits down with Wylie Robinson, co-founder and former CEO of Rumpl, to explore how his outdoor blanket company is weathering major tariff shifts and rethinking its China-based supply chain. Learn how Wylie and his team are navigating sourcing challenges, global logistics, and unpredictable regulations while maintaining brand integrity. If you're an e-commerce entrepren...

Part 2 of our interview with Ivan Tijerina of Solomon Advertising is a tactical goldmine. We get into the nitty-gritty of how to structure affiliate programs for Amazon, TikTok Shop, and DTC sites, the importance of knowing your margins, and how to calculate commissions to stay profitable. Plus, Ivan shares how to choose the right affiliate platforms and manage expectations with leadership. This is a must-listen for any product-bas...

In Part 1 of this deep dive with Ivan Tijerina, founder of Solomon Advertising, we unpack the essentials of affiliate marketing for e-commerce businesses. Ivan shares how he got his start in the industry, the biggest mistakes new affiliate managers make, and how to avoid fraud and low-value coupon sites. Whether you're scaling an established program or starting from scratch, this episode is packed with practical lessons that will h...

In Part 2 of this conversation, Becca dives deep with Mike Hogan on the challenges and opportunities of growing a niche outdoor brand in a rapidly changing retail landscape. From experimenting with a 100% locally sourced ski to rebuilding trust with retailers after a DTC misstep, Mike shares the real (and raw) stories behind the growth of Hagan Skis. Whether you sell gear, apparel, or products online, this episode is packed with in...

What happens when a lifelong skier buys the ski brand he’s obsessed with? In this episode, Becca sits down with Mike Hogan, the CEO of Hagan Skis North America, to talk about how his love for the sport led to one of the boldest career pivots you’ll ever hear. From storing skis in his kids’ bedrooms to building partnerships with shops across the country, Mike shares the gritty, unconventional path of growing a niche brand in a legac...

What happens when an entrepreneur with a passion for design takes on two wildly different industries? Chris McKleroy, founder of Nocs Binoculars and co-founder of Boombotix, shares his rollercoaster journey from creating the first wearable Bluetooth speakers to launching a brand that’s now sold in REI stores across the country. In this episode, Chris breaks down his biggest lessons in cash flow management, scaling product-based bus...

How do you scale a niche product and turn it into an outdoor brand loved by customers and major retailers alike? Chris McKleroy, founder of Nocs Provisions, joins host Rebecca Babicz to share the behind-the-scenes of growing his company from DTC (direct-to-consumer) success to landing in REI stores across the country. In this episode, Chris discusses wholesale strategies, e-commerce growth hacks, and how values-driven branding play...

What’s the secret to building a brand that customers obsess over? In Part 2 of this conversation with Jim Santos, co-owner of Outer Shell, we dive into the behind-the-scenes of scaling a product-based business, the challenges and rewards of manufacturing in the USA, and how grassroots marketing and community events fueled Outer Shell’s success. Jim shares how their Coffee Outside meetups became an organic marketing powerhouse, why ...

What happens when a passion for biking and a DIY mindset turn into a full-scale business? In this episode, Jim Santos, co-owner of Outer Shell, shares his unconventional journey from corporate tech to manufacturing bikepacking gear in San Francisco. Host Rebecca Babicz dives into the challenges and rewards of growing a niche brand, including how Jim and his business partner, Kyle, built Outer Shell from the ground up. From early pr...

Ready for an unfiltered look at what it really takes to build and grow a business? In this debut episode of The Après Business Podcast, host Rebecca Babicz, founder of Fall Line Digital, introduces the show’s mission: to uncover the raw, behind-the-scenes truths of entrepreneurship. From marketing wins (and fails) to the lessons only learned in hindsight, Rebecca promises unscripted, real-world conversations with entrepreneurs, gro...