Coffee N° 5 with Lara Schmoisman
by Lara Schmoisman
Your Brew of Business Wisdom - Coffee N5 is your ultimate guide to running, growing, and scaling a successful business in today’s competitive landscape. Hosted by award-winning marketing strategist Lara Schmoisman—a Forbes Next 1000 honoree and LA Times Inspirational Women finalist—this Podcast is your secret weapon for actionable strategies, insider tips, and real-world success stories. Every episode dives into the tools, tricks, and tactics that help businesses thrive, featuring insights from industry leaders and innovators across beauty, wellness, lifestyle, and beyond. Lara’s unique approach combines her vast expertise in omnichannel marketing with her passion for helping brands unlock their potential. Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, Coffee N5 gives you everything you need to create lasting success. So, pour yourself a cup, tune in, and let’s turn your business ambitions into reality—one episode at a time! Listen now and discover what it
Episodes
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From Marketing Exec to Beauty Founder: Gilly on Resilience & Brand Growth
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Coffee N°5, Lara Schmoisman chats with Gilly, founder of Gilly’s Organics. Gilly shares her inspiring journey from marketing executive to building a thriving organic beauty brand. From overcoming major setbacks like losing retail shelf space to cultivating…
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The Power of Elastin: Leah Garcia on Science, Integrity, and Skincare Innovation
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Coffee N°5, Lara Schmoisman chats with Leah Garcia, founder of Nectar7. Leah shares her inspiring transition from professional athlete and TV sports journalist to beauty entrepreneur. From unlocking the power of overlooked ingredients like elastin to…
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Preserving Heritage in a Digital World with C.O. Bigelow CEO Ian Ginsburg
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Coffee N°5, Lara Schmoisman chats with Ian Ginsburg, CEO of C.O. Bigelow. Recorded live at Cosmoprof (with a huge thank you to the Cosmoprof team for hosting us!), Ian dives into the rich history of America's oldest apothecary and how it successfully…
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The Death of Generic Marketing: Fernando Acosta on AI, Sensory Marketing & Global Scale
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Coffee N°5, Lara Schmoisman chats with Fernando Acosta. Recorded live at Cosmoprof (with a huge thank you to the Cosmoprof team for hosting us!), Fernando shares his journey from Buenos Aires to leading global brands, unpacking what it really takes to build…
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The Power of Human Touch in Customer Experience
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Coffee N°5, Lara Schmoisman chats with Lisa Green. Recorded live at Cosmoprof (with a huge thank you to the Cosmoprof team for hosting us!), Lisa shares her deep expertise in retail strategy, customer experience, and the irreplaceable power of the human touch....
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The Future of Beauty: Trends and Insights with Noah Rosenblatt
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Coffee N°5, Lara Schmoisman chats with Noah Rosenblatt. Recorded live at Cosmoprof (with a huge thank you to the Cosmoprof team for hosting us!), Noah shares deep insights into the rapid evolution of the beauty industry, digital transformation, and modern brand...
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Asian Beauty is so much more that K-Beauty: What Brands get dead wrong
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Coffee N°5, Lara Schmoisman chats with Linda Dang, founder of Sakoshi. Linda shares her expert insights on the evolution of Asian beauty in North America, moving far beyond traditional K-beauty trends. From navigating cultural localization and brand readiness…
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Aspen's Little Dirty Secret: How Cos Bar Secretly Built a Luxury Empire
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Coffee N°5, Lara Schmoisman chats with Oliver Garfield, former COO and Co-President of Cos Bar. Oliver dives into the remarkable history of Cos Bar, founded in Aspen by his mother, Lily Garfield and how it evolved into a premier luxury beauty retailer. From...
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What Law School Didn't Teach Her About Sales
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Coffee N°5, Lara Schmoisman chats with Mara, a powerhouse sales leader and healthcare entrepreneur. Mara shares her inspiring journey from a challenging start in law to building a multi-million dollar career in healthcare sales and leadership. From mastering…
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The Death of Guesswork: How Sorcea Decodes Real Consumer Reviews
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Coffee N°5, Lara Schmoisman chats with Jadon Wyant, CEO of Sorcea. Jadon dives into how data-driven insights are transforming the beauty and wellness industries, sharing how his platform cuts through the noise of an oversaturated market. From collecting…
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Therapy Is Expensive, so We Built an AI Alien Guardian Angel
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Coffee N°5, Lara Schmoisman chats with Quinten Farmer, founder of Portola and creator of Tolan. Quinten dives into his journey of developing an innovative personal AI that acts as a supportive companion to help users navigate overwhelm and life's everyday...
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How Beauty Heroes Revolutionized Clean Skincare Shopping
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Coffee N°5, Lara Schmoisman chats with Jeannie Jarnot, founder of Beauty Heroes. Jeannie dives into her transition from spa management to pioneering a clean, sustainable, and highly effective beauty marketplace. From establishing strict ingredient standards to...
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From Secretary to Industry Leader: Elana S Drell Szyfer's Journey
Send us Fan Mail How do you climb from an entry-level secretarial role to the executive suites of the beauty world? In this episode of Coffee N°5, we sit down with beauty industry powerhouse Elana S Drell Szyfer. Elana shares her remarkable journey, offering a masterclass in career development,...
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Breaking Taboos in Sexual Wellness: The Future of Women’s Pleasure with Maria Warrington
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Coffee N°5, Lara Schmoisman chats with Maria Warrington, CEO of Beacon Brands. Maria dives into the evolving world of sexual wellness, sharing what it really takes to build, market, and scale a brand in one of the most restricted yet fastest-growing industries....
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Raising Capital & Scaling: What Investors REALLY Look for in Beauty Brands
Send us Fan Mail In Episode of Coffee N5, Lara Schmoisman chats with Ilya Seglin, Managing Director at Raymond James. Ilya dives deep into the world of finance, explaining what it takes for a brand to raise growth capital or achieve a successful strategic exit. They discuss the reality of…
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The Future of Wellness: AI and Luxury Experiences with Tom | Coffee N5
Send us Fan Mail The Future of Wellness: AI and Luxury Experiences with Tom | Coffee N5 In Episode 248 of Coffee N5, Lara Schmoisman chats with Tom, a leading consultant in the luxury skincare and wellness space. They explore a often overlooked but highly lucrative channel: Hospitality. Tom…
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Beyond the Business Card: Strategic Networking with Mike Ryan | Coffee N5
Send us Fan Mail Beyond the Business Card: Strategic Networking with Mike Ryan | Coffee N5 In Episode 247 of Coffee N5, Lara Schmoisman chats with Mike Ryan, a true master of professional relationships and a veteran of the PR and marketing industry. In this episode, they dive deep into the world…
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The Future of Hormone Health: Community, Clean Living, and Preventative Wellness with Sara Jensen
Send us Fan Mail In this Coffee Nº5 episode, Lara Schmoisman sits down with Sara Jensen—serial entrepreneur, author, and Co-Founder & Co-CEO of Hugh & Grace—to explore hormone health, preventative wellness, chemical exposure, and the rise of community-driven commerce. We'll talk about: How 14…
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The Power of Kindness: Longevity, Entrepreneurship, and Building a Legacy with Dr. Brent Ridge
Send us Fan Mail In this Coffee Nº5 episode, Lara Schmoisman sits down with Dr. Brent Ridge—physician, longevity researcher, co-founder of Beekman 1802, and co-author of Goat Wisdom—to explore the science of longevity, microbiome innovation, and why kindness is a powerful long-term business...
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The Reality of Social Commerce: Creators, AI, and What Actually Drives Sales with Bora Mutluoglu
Send us Fan Mail In this Coffee Nº5 episode, Lara Schmoisman sits down with Bora Mutluoglu, co-founder of Reacher and Y Combinator alum, to break down the reality of social commerce. Using TikTok Shop as a case study, they explore automation, affiliate strategy, creator relationships, and how...
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Redefining Ambition: From Burnout to Purpose with Amina AlTai
Send us Fan Mail In this Coffee Nº5 episode, Lara Schmoisman sits down with Amina AlTai—holistic business and career coach, proud immigrant, chronic illness advocate, host of the Amina Change Your Life podcast, and author of The Ambition Trap: How to Stop Chasing and Start Living—to explore the...
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Demystifying PR with Jennifer Bickerton & Lauren Kahn
Send us Fan Mail In this Coffee Nº5 episode, Lara Schmoisman sits down with Jennifer Bickerton and Lauren Kahn, Co-Founders of Intersection PR, to demystify what PR really looks like in 2026. From AI and media fragmentation to influencer economics, launches, and integrated ecosystems, this...
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Amazon Is Not a Channel. It’s part of the Ecosystem: What Brands Get Wrong with Laura Meyer
Send us Fan Mail In this Coffee Nº5 episode, Lara sits down with Laura Meyer—Founder & CEO of Envision Horizons and former Amazon insider—to break down why Amazon isn’t “just another sales channel.” They unpack what actually drives revenue on Amazon, the biggest distractions brands fall for, and...
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From Artist to AI Founder: The Power of a Non-Linear Path with Kat Garcia
Send us Fan Mail In this Coffee Nº5 episode, Lara sits down with Kat Garcia, Founder of Ground AI, to dismantle the myth of the linear career. They go from Hollywood sets to building revenue engines, getting real about why the traditional funnel is broken and how to use data to build actual...
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The Non-Linear Path to Building a Science-Backed Skincare Brand with Allison McNamara
Send us Fan Mail In this Coffee Nº5 episode, Lara sits down with Allison McNamara, Founder and CEO of MARA Beauty, to explore the non-linear path from media to building a science-backed skincare brand. A grounded conversation about discipline, focus, and earning clarity over time. We'll talk…
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Is Supply Chain Sexy?: Cash Flow, Control, and Scaling Reality with Aaron Alpeter
Send us Fan Mail In this Coffee Nº5 episode, Lara Schmoisman sits down with Aaron Alpeter, founder of Izba, Sourcify, and Slotted, to break down the operational reality of scaling product-based businesses. From cash flow and supplier negotiations to packaging costs and operational flexibility…
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Funding the Right Way: Venture Capital, Marketing & Founder Strategy with Laurel Mintz
Send us Fan Mail Laurel Mintz, Founder & GP of Fabric VC and CEO of Elevate My Brand, joins Lara Schmoisman on Coffee Nº5 to demystify venture capital for founders. From bootstrapping vs. raising money and what VCs really look for in pitch decks, to the truth about AI hype and why communication...
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2026 Is Calling: What Marketers Need to Know with Lara Schmoisman
Send us Fan Mail In the final Coffee Nº5 episode of the year, Lara Schmoisman breaks down the marketing ecosystem of 2026—an environment defined by AI clarity, human-led storytelling, micro-experts, privacy-first data practices, and integrated teams. This episode explains what it truly takes to...
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SEO Without the Nonsense: What Actually Drives Organic Growth with Lara Schmoisman
Send us Fan Mail In this solo episode of Coffee Nº5, Lara Schmoisman cuts through the noise around SEO and breaks down what actually matters: technical performance, quality backlinks, and audience-driven keywords. She explains how SEO fuels organic growth, why structure matters more than…
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The Heart of Your Business: Why Every Strategy Starts with Your Website
Send us Fan Mail Lara Schmoisman shares why your website is the true heart of your business—and why ignoring its performance can cost you growth, visibility, and conversions. From SEO and site speed to tech stacks and maintenance, this Coffee Nº5 episode breaks down how your site connects every...
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When Content Stops, Growth Stops: The Truth About Blogging & SEO with Lara Schmoisman
Send us Fan Mail Lara Schmoisman breaks down why blogging is still one of the most powerful tools in digital marketing—and what happens when brands stop. From keyword strategy to AI-ready content, Lara reveals how organic traffic, SEO, and conversions are directly tied to consistent, strategic...
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Integrated Marketing in Action: The IEMA System with Lara Schmoisman
Send us Fan Mail Lara Schmoisman breaks down her IEMA system on Coffee Nº5, showing how integrated marketing—content that is Informative, Entertaining, Memorable, and Actionable—drives real growth. From SEO and AI to storytelling and strategy, Lara shares practical insights to make your content...
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Beauty Connect LA: Behind the Trends Driving the Industry with Joanne Murphy
Send us Fan Mail Joanne Murphy, Senior Conference Producer at Kisaco Research, joins Lara Schmoisman on Coffee Nº5 to pull back the curtain on Beauty Connect LA—one of the industry’s most strategic gatherings for founders, investors, and innovators. From retail readiness and AI-powered insights…
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The Future of Creativity: Building Emotionally Intelligent AI with Lalla Asmaa Alaoui
Send us Fan Mail Lalla Asmaa Alaoui, architect, luxury designer, and founder of AllMyAI, joins Lara Schmoisman on Coffee Nº5 to talk about the next frontier of AI—where emotional intelligence meets innovation. From building HorseHub, the world’s first AI-driven luxury equestrian brand, to…
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Inside SXSW: 35 Years of Community, Creativity, and Constant Reinvention with Hugh Forrest
Send us Fan Mail Hugh Forrest, transformative leader of SXSW and founder of Gather and Grow, joins Lara Schmoisman on Coffee Nº5 to share how a local music festival became a global hub for technology, culture, and creativity. From building community to reinventing live experiences, Hugh reveals...
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Accessibility, Compliance, and Conversions: Why Digital Inclusion Is a Business Imperative with Bet Hannon
Send us Fan Mail Bet Hannon, web accessibility expert and founder of AccessiCart, joins Lara Schmoisman on Coffee Nº5 to break down what accessibility really means for websites, marketing, and global compliance. From ADA lawsuits to the EU Accessibility Act, Bet shares why inclusive design is not...
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Bootstrapped to Beauty Powerhouse: Scaling SUGARED + BRONZED with Courtney Claghorn
Send us Fan Mail Courtney Claghorn, co-founder of SUGARED + BRONZED, joins Lara Schmoisman on Coffee Nº5 to share how she bootstrapped a beauty service out of her apartment into a nationwide brand. From $1,000 in startup capital to 10 stores before raising funding, Courtney reveals the lessons of...
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Eternal Beauty: Redefining Skincare and Self-Worth with Alec Batis
Send us Fan Mail Alec Batis, beauty industry veteran and founder of Sweet Chemistry, joins Lara Schmoisman on Coffee Nº5 to unpack the pursuit of eternal beauty. From organ regeneration science to peptide innovation, he shares how true beauty goes beyond flawless skin—blending performance-driven...
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The Science of Skincare: How Pharma Innovation is Redefining Beauty with Mark Menning, PhD
Send us Fan Mail Mark Menning, PhD, pharmaceutical scientist and founder of MARK Los Angeles, joins Lara Schmoisman to unpack how flavonoids, clinical trials, and advanced delivery systems are reshaping skincare. From FDA-approved antivirals to cold sore serums and acne care, he shares how...
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The Authenticity Shift: Rethinking Social Media with Susanah Zeffiro
Send us Fan Mail Susanah Zeffiro, Brand Partnerships Lead at BeReal and former Spotify and Epic Games exec, joins Lara Schmoisman to explore the future of social media, authenticity vs. AI, and how brands can win with Gen Z by leaning into raw, unfiltered connection instead of glossy campaigns....
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The Hard Truth About Beauty Innovation with Steven J. Edelstein
Send us Fan Mail Steven J. Edelstein, VP of Growth & Partnerships at MyFBAPrep, joins Lara Schmoisman to unpack why most brands fail before they scale—covering pricing strategy, supply chain traps, trade show mistakes, and the future of beauty innovation through personalization and smarter...
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The Brand Growth Secret: Advocacy Marketing with Henry Barton
Send us Fan Mail Henry Barton, Global Head of Network & Community at Duel Tech, joins Lara Schmoisman to reveal how the smartest fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brands turn their most passionate customers into unstoppable advocates—and why community is your ultimate growth engine. We'll talk…
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Beyond Transactions: Building Loyalty That Lasts with Ken Hughes
Send us Fan Mail Ken Hughes, known as The King of Customer Experience, joins Lara Schmoisman to share why connection—not product—is the ultimate differentiator in today’s AI-driven world, and how brands can design loyalty that lasts. We'll talk about: Why products and services are now...
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Why Indie Beauty Is Dead—And What’s Replacing It with Nader Naeymi-Rad
Send us Fan Mail Nader Naeymi-Rad, Founder and Publisher of Beauty Independent, joins Lara Schmoisman to unpack the evolution of the beauty industry—from the death of indie beauty to the rise of professional founders, and what it really takes to build a brand that lasts. We'll talk about: Why the...
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How Daniel Scharff Built the World’s Largest CPG Brand Community (And Why It’s Just the Start)
Send us Fan Mail Daniel Scharff, Founder & CEO of Startup CPG and host of a top 0.5% global podcast, joins Lara Schmoisman to talk brand-building, retail truth bombs, and what it really takes to grow in the crowded CPG space. We'll talk about: How Daniel scaled Startup CPG into the most trusted...
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The Digital Revolution: User Experience and Tech Strategy with Don Allen
Send us Fan Mail Lara Schmoisman and Don Allen, CIO/CISO of Moda Operandi, discuss the evolution of e-commerce, the impact of AI on user experience and SEO, and strategic technology adoption for competitive advantage. We'll talk about: The surprising truth about SEO today—and why organic reach is...
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The Truth About Social Media Strategy with Mimi Banks
Send us Fan Mail Lara Schmoisman and Mimi Banks of MB Social dive into real talk about social media strategy, content that converts, and the future of the creator economy—from beauty brands to medical experts. We'll talk about: How Mimi helped turn nail art UGC into one of L'Oréal’s earliest...
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Beyond the Pitch: Sales, Positioning, and Pricing with Blair Enns
Send us Fan Mail Blair Enns joins Lara Schmoisman to unpack what actually works when experts sell their services. From value-based pricing to client alignment, this episode breaks down smart, integrity-driven growth. We'll talk about: The mindset shift that helped Blair move from chasing clients…
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Built to Scale: Strategy That Performs with Chelsea Grayson
Send us Fan Mail Board leader and former CEO Chelsea Grayson joins Lara Schmoisman on Coffee Nº5 to break down what actually drives business growth. From managing iconic brands to scaling through economic turbulence, this episode is packed with insights on strategy, governance, and real…
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Leading Through Connection: A Smarter Approach with Sara Pereda
Send us Fan Mail eCommerce connector and community builder Sara Pereda joins Lara Schmoisman on Coffee Nº5 to unpack how Smarterships became a global force, what makes partnerships actually work, and how to scale with strategy, integrity, and connection. We'll talk about: Why Sara built a global...
About this show
Your Brew of Business Wisdom - Coffee N5 is your ultimate guide to running, growing, and scaling a successful business in today’s competitive landscape. Hosted by award-winning marketing strategist Lara Schmoisman—a Forbes Next 1000 honoree and LA Times Inspirational Women finalist—this Podcast is your secret weapon for actionable strategies, insider tips, and real-world success stories. Every episode dives into the tools, tricks, and tactics that help businesses thrive, featuring insights from industry leaders and innovators across beauty, wellness, lifestyle, and beyond. Lara’s unique approach combines her vast expertise in omnichannel marketing with her passion for helping brands unlock their potential. Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, Coffee N5 gives you everything you need to create lasting success. So, pour yourself a cup, tune in, and let’s turn your business ambitions into reality—one episode at a time! Listen now and discover what it
Hosted by
Lara Schmoisman
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