Schmoozing with Span

This week we're schmoozing with Charlotte Bickley Meller. This conversation goes way deeper than fashion. We're talking about what it really means to choose a new faith, how she converted to Judaism twice (yes, twice), and why modern Orthodox women are actually some of the most empowered people she knows. We get into dating in your 20s in New York, why she left LA and came running back, and how meeting her husband at a London wedding turned into a Portugal plus one situation that changed everything. We also dive into the beauty prep for her Monaco wedding (what worked, what didn't, and why salmon DNA was a disaster), her current routine (sunscreen, spray tans, and Laser Genesis), and why she's freezing her eggs this fall. Not because she has to, but because modern medicine is empowering and she wants to live her best life before kids enter the picture. Charlotte talks about her career journey from Bergdorf Goodman buyer to content creator, why working with family is complicated, and how switching management right before her wedding became the catalyst for her entire 2.0 era. We also talk about what makes a great relationship (spoiler: it's finding someone who supports your career and doesn't think content creation is cringe), why her husband is the yin to her yang, and how being married has actually made her more confident in her work. Plus, Upper East Side life, dream days in New York, why she still loves downtown, and Poppy the rescue dog who made her podcast debut. This one's for anyone redefining religion in their 20s and 30s, anyone who's ever felt pressure to have kids on someone else's timeline, or anyone who just wants to know what it really takes to build a life and career on your own terms. Charlotte's energy is infectious, her story is inspiring, and her advice is so refreshingly honest. Follow Charlotte on Instagram @chbickley and check out her Friends of Charlotte series on YouTube. Let's get into it. Let's schmooze. Chapters: 00:00:00 Welcome and Introduction to Charlotte Bickley 00:00:46 Manifesting Success and Speaking on Podcasts 00:02:14 From Syracuse to Bergdorf Goodman: Career Journey 00:03:28 Working with Family and Ying to My Yang 00:04:16 Transitioning to Editor at Large at Daily Front Row 00:05:06 The Evolution of Magazines and Digital Media 00:07:09 Launching Friends of Charlotte Series 00:08:56 Content Creation 2.0 and Finding Inspiration 00:09:46 Switching Management and Shooting Your Shot 00:11:00 Marriage, Support, and Finding the Right Partner 00:12:23 LA vs New York: Why She Left and Came Home 00:14:39 Dating in Your 20s in New York City 00:17:14 Meeting Her Husband: From London Wedding to Portugal 00:18:31 Relationships, Growth, and Living Your Best Life in Your 20s 00:20:25 Discovering Judaism: From Syracuse to Conversion 00:23:07 First Conversion: Conservative Judaism During COVID 00:24:52 Second Conversion: Modern Orthodox and What It Means 00:27:27 Conversion Classes, Mikvah, and the Bet Din Experience 00:29:01 Judaism, Inclusivity, and Doing the Right Thing 00:33:05 Wedding Planning: Choosing Monaco Over the Hamptons 00:33:24 Beauty Prep for the Wedding: Treatments and Lessons Learned 00:35:38 Current Beauty Routine: Sunscreen, Spray Tans, and Laser Genesis 00:40:53 Honeymoon Dreams: Southeast Asia on the Ritz Carlton Yacht 00:42:56 Travel Bucket List: Montenegro, Montana, and Experience Driven Trips 00:46:47 Family Planning: IVF, Freezing Eggs, and Modern Medicine 00:48:52 Women's Health, Empowerment, and Taking Control 00:49:39 Modern Orthodox Women and Empowerment 00:56:09 Upper East Side Life and Dream Day in New York 00:58:54 Downtown Favorites and Why She Still Loves Downtown 00:59:27 Poppy the Rescue Dog and Closing Thoughts

This week we're sitting down with Allie DePinto, a Jersey girl who’s built her entire career on her own terms. From working the 5:30 am front desk shift at SoulCycle to now running her own social media business and working with some of your favorite brands like Phoebe Gates and PhePhe, Allie's story is proof that trusting your gut asking for the yes, and figuring the rest out later WORKS.  We get into how she landed her first client (spoiler: she asked), how to price your services when you have no idea what you're doing, and why content creation is the most valuable skill you can offer right now. We talk about the decision to drop out of college, why having corporate experience before going freelance is so important, and how SoulCycle became the through line of her entire life, including how she met her fiancé. On the influencer side, we talk about Allie's 2.0 era, the walk and talk content that's taking over her feed, and why she started treating herself like a client. We get into the truth about the algorithm (consistency over perfection, always), how to navigate brand deals and gifting without undervaluing yourself, and why over delivering is actually what gets you paid partnerships. Plus, the Taylor Swift SoulCycle April Fools campaign that went viral, pissed off instructors, and made it on The Toast. A true cultural moment. Basically, this one is for anyone who wants to quit the 9-5, start something of their own, or needs a little reminder that you do not, in fact, need to do things the normal way. Allie's energy is infectious, her advice is practical, and her story is proof that you don't need to follow the traditional path to build something incredible. Also, our English bulldogs might be related, which is the most important takeaway from this entire conversation. Follow Allie on Instagram @alliedepinto (three L's for now, two L's coming after the wedding). Let's get into it. Let's schmooze. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome and Introduction to Allie DePinto 03:49 Building a Social Media Consultancy from Scratch 06:36 Landing Your First Client and Overcoming Rejection ( Terra Pilates, Phoebe Gates, PhePhe) 09:41 The Value of Corporate Experience Before Going Freelance 10:17 Content Creation: Your Most Valuable Asset 12:41 Pricing, Retainers, and Building Your Rate 16:18 The Decision to Drop Out of College 20:36 The Hustle Year: Working Multiple Jobs to Make It Work 22:14 Being Different and Following Your Own Path 28:05 SoulCycle Origins and Meeting Her Fiancé 32:48 Long Distance to Living Together: The Relationship Journey 43:16 The Allie 2.0: Treating Yourself Like a Client 46:32 Consistency Over Perfection: The Algorithm Truth 48:32 Brands Doing It Right: Dairy Boy and Building a World 52:40 The Taylor Swift April Fools Campaign at SoulCycle 1:00:47 The Freelance Financial Reality: Insurance, Taxes, and Structure 1:05:55 Brand Deals and Over-Delivering: The 2026 Strategy 1:08:35 Dream Brands and Manifesting: J.Crew and Beyond 1:09:25 Where to Find Allie and Final Thoughts

This week we're diving into something I've been wanting to talk about for six months: Kabbalah, spirituality, and consciousness. I'm joined by Lea Yordani, who grew up studying Kabbalah and is now a mentor at the Kabbalah Center in Midtown. We're breaking down what Kabbalah actually is (spoiler: it's not what you think), how it's transformed my life in the last 8 months, and how to make ancient spiritual wisdom digestible for your 20s. We start with a grounding exercise because that's how we begin every Tuesday night class at the center. Then we get into the real stuff: What is Kabbalah? Is it a religion? Spirituality? Mysticism? How do you define the light? What does it mean to live in the 1% versus the 99%? And why does everyone keep saying "the creator" now? We talk about the concept of tikkun (your personal spiritual correction), how all challenges are actually opportunities, and the four steps to shift from reactive consciousness to soul consciousness. We break down what it means to move from level one (victim mentality, to me) to level two (I know what I need to do but I'm scared, for me) to level three (I'm a vessel of light, through me). And why level three is where the magic happens. Leah shares what it was like growing up in the Kabbalah Center, why she stepped away from keeping kosher and Shabbat in her early 20s, and how she redefined spirituality on her own terms. We talk about the difference between doing something out of fear versus doing it because it genuinely makes you feel aligned. And why consistency with spiritual practice is everything. We also get into soft Shabbos (my new obsession), why I now live Tuesday to Tuesday, and how spirituality has completely shifted my energy. People keep telling me I have the best energy lately and honestly? It's the Kabbalah. This episode is for anyone who's ever been curious about Kabbalah, anyone redefining religion and spirituality in their 20s, or anyone who just wants to understand what the hell I mean when I say "the light" or "99% versus 1%." We're making it digestible, we're making it real, and we're making it feel less intimidating. Also, we recorded this in under an hour and it felt like five minutes because when you're fully present and tapped into consciousness, time literally moves differently. That's the whole point. Follow Leah on Instagram @leahyardeni to learn more about Access Bars, energy work, and other tools of consciousness. And if you're in New York, come to Kabbalah class on Tuesday nights. You'll find me at table six taking five pages of notes in my Spiritually Hungry journal. Let's get spiritual. Let's get conscious. Let's schmooze.

SCHMOOZERS, WE’RE SCHLEPPING OUT OF THE CITY.  This week I’m joined by my friend Cara Lash founder of Caravan. Caravan is the ultimate hack to get from the concrete jungle into nature without the planning spiral. We get into why a Caravan trip is the ultimate soft Shabbos activity (no phone), what made her walk away from consulting to build this, and how what started as a tech platform turned into something way more an actual community, IRL, off their phones.  We also get into the time she took 50 kids from camp to Alaska, because apparently that’s just a camp activity for her. If you’ve been craving a reason to put the phone down and get outside, this one’s for you. Caravan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caravantripplan?igsh=cjUwbjl2cW00aWw3 Caravan TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@caravan.trip.plan?_r=1&_t=ZT-97PHF2rhQqL https://www.instagram.com/schmoozingwithspan?igsh=MWJ1cHJ4bHc0Mmp4MA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr https://www.tiktok.com/@schmoozingwithspan?_r=1&_t=ZT-97PHBsoWwpi

There is, apparently, a very niche pipeline from being an individual sports counselor at camp to becoming a solo podcaster. Is it niche? Yes. Is it real? Also yes. Emma and I both started our podcasts the exact same week which feels less like coincidence and more like… KISMET. Bashert, perhaps? And if you know, you know camp is my main personality trait and favorite place on earth. It’s where you skip the small talk, overshare immediately, and somehow leave with lifelong friends and at least three personality traits you didn’t have before. That energy is exactly what this conversation feels like. And it’s also, in a very real way, what Emma built with Ghosted with Grief a grief podcast and online community that takes something heavy (loss, grief, healing, mental health). We schmooze (obviously) about dating and how grief sneaks into your relationships whether you’ve processed it or not. If you’ve ever been ghosted, gone through grief, or tried to date in a world where you have the loudest personality and depth. If you ran the NYC Marathon in under three hours, slide into Emma’s personal DMs. Not Ghosted (that would be weird?) It’s less interview, more two camp people turned podcasters having a very honest, slightly unhinged, deeply on-brand conversation about creating community.  Follow Along On Socials Sam’s Socials TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@schmoozingwithspan?_r=1&_t=ZT-95zI4OkTs0z Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/schmoozingwithspan?igsh=MWJ1cHJ4bHc0Mmp4MA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr Emma’s Socials TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@emmasloanezeig?_r=1&_t=ZP-95ywbIbYBFG  Insta: https://www.instagram.com/ghostedbygrief?igsh=b3RmbW1rZm9jc3pr&utm_source=qr and https://www.instagram.com/emzeigs?igsh=MTk4NHY4cGpycnZ5bw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr Apple: Ghosted Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1E9RJn2MWbP9x0LKARhEMF?si=sLn2nBHVQTupQyNpu2xpLg

Welcome to First Sip & Schmooze our new mini-series where we sit down with the founders behind the small brands you can’t stop seeing all over your feed. You know those viral sourdough cookies blowing up on TikTok? The ones everyone is talking about from Sally to Brett Chody to Kelley Grace Mae? Yeah… those. But here’s the wild part: this brand was actually the first thing I was ever gifted. And in this episode, I find out something that made it all feel a little too aligned I was the first person Jacqueline ever sent to KISMET. Talk about a full-circle moment. In this episode, I sit down with the founder behind the internet’s latest obsession to talk about what it really takes to build a brand that cuts through the noise. From going viral to selling out, we get into the behind-the-scenes of turning a simple idea into a must-have product. But what makes this conversation even better? We’re basically living parallel lives. Both former tech girlies, both now working in the corporate podcasting world, and both figuring it out as we go just on very different paths. We talk career pivots, taking risks, building something from scratch, and what happens after the internet decides you’re “that girl.” If you’ve ever thought about starting something of your own or just want the story behind the cookies everyone’s freaking out over this one’s for you. Sip with us. Schmooze with us. And meet the founder behind your latest obsession. Follow Along on Socials: 🍪🍸 Schmoozing with Span TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@schmoozingwithspan?_r=1&_t=ZT-91Y3jtiNclh⁠ Schmoozing with Span Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/schmoozingwithspan?igsh=MWJ1cHJ4bHc0Mmp4MA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr⁠ ORDER COOKIES on Hot Plate: http://hotplate.com/closetohomebakery⁠ Close to Home Bakery TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@closetohomebakery?_r=1&_t=ZP-95JblRAzIsh⁠ Close to Home Bakery Instagram: ⁠http://instagram.com/closetohomebakery⁠

On this episode of Schmoozing with Span, Ally shares how she turned the shutdown of her corporate job into the launch of Soirée Miami Beach, a six-figure-a-month resort wear brand loved for its style, sparkle, and attention to detail. Along the way, we dive into OG moments meeting Madison Beer to a chaotic teen tour flight from Paris and silly childhood stories. These stories are equal parts hilarious, unfiltered, and surprisingly relatable. From hosting brand trips to scaling a team, Ally gives a behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to build a swim and resort wear brand. We also talk routines, resets, and our favorite shvitz + schmooze sessions at Othership, and why balance is key to long-term success. If you’re into fashion, female founders, or scaling a creative fashion business, this one delivers both insight and laughs. 💖 Use promo code SAMXO15 for 15% off your Soirée Miami Beach order! Follow Along on Socials: Schmoozing with Span TikTok:Schmoozing TikTok Schmoozingwithspan Instagram: Schmoozing Insta Ally Nissan Insta: Instagram · allynissan5.8K+ followersAlly Nissan (@allynissan) Ally Nissan TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@allynissan?_r=1&_t=ZP-94vr4KycsVr Soiree Miami Beach Insta: Instagram · soireemiamibeach11.1K+ followersSoirée Miami Beach (@soireemiamibeach) Soirée Miami Beach TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@soireemiamibeach?_r=1&_t=ZP-94vr37WjsUB Soirée Miami Beach Website: https://soireemiamibeach.com

If you’ve ever been offended by being called the “personality hire” think again. I was invited on my friends brand trip to the Hamptons as the entertainment hire where I met the fabulous Sydney Silverman. She had the best energy and I told her about my podcast concept and now here we are full circle sitting on the POD! Sydney had the dream job in the liquor industry the kind of role people don’t just walk away from. But at one point she found herself planning the brand trips for her liquor company while also being invited as an influencer on the events and realizing something had to give. Was it worth going all in? What makes this episode different than all other episodes (no, not in a seder way, relax) is how much we cover from launching her 30-piece capsule collection with Dillards to long distance relationship between New York and LA New York and LA, BTS of fashion week chaos & and all the niche little debates in between Pio Pio vs Taco Bell important questions.  It’s less interview, more real conversation. FOLLOW ON SPOTIFY YOUTUBE APPLE TO GET NOTIFIED OF NEXT EPISODES ❤️❤️ Follow Along on Socials: Sydney Insta: https://www.instagram.com/sydneysilverman?igsh=MWllZ3h2dXhmOGRhdQ== Sydney TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@sydneysilverman_?_r=1&_t=ZT-94LD2UZZLDy Schmoozing Insta:https://www.instagram.com/schmoozingwithspan?igsh=MjF2NHQwMDRuanBy Schmoozing TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@schmoozingwithspan?_r=1&_t=ZT-94LD1DCxegv

Two years ago at SXSW, I met Alex Cooper. She asked if we were sisters. For some reason, I said, “No, we’re just Jews.” What started as a 2 minute interaction somehow spiraled into me going back on foot… 2 days later to hand deliver my resume like I was in a 2000s romcom. No shame, Just vibes, chutzpah, and the audacity to believe I belonged at that desk. And somehow… it got me an interview. In this episode: The exact moment we met What the energy actually felt like Why I decided to go back What I said when I handed over my resume Whether I almost packed my bags and moved to LA And how this unhinged decision low-key became the origin story of this entire podcast Because two years ago I was pitching myself to work there. Now SCHMOOZING WITH SPAN is here.  Stay until the end because the final twist? I was really close to moving. Share this so she sees it. Let’s schmooze.

From schlepping crown jewels at the farmers market to hitting six-figure months, Spicy Dan is spilling all the behind-the-scenes chaos that followed Hannah Chody posting her necklaces. We dive into the early days of selling just two pieces a month to hiring people off Facebook Marketplace to help make jewelry while she was working corporate job on zoom in the corner. We talk about quitting tech sales, moving to Austin, and how city life, creativity, and a little bit of chaos shaped her jewelry empire. Along the way, we get into our shared love for Austin, and the chaos, creativity, and unexpected lessons that turned a side hustle into a booming business. Grab a spicy marg, kick back, and schmooze with Spicy Dan 🌶️💎

Another CPG podcast crossing you schmoozers’ desk and we’re going out with a bang. Before Schmoozing With Span hits pause on CPG for the next two months, Span sits down with Kiki, co-founder of Sourmilk. Kiki schlepped over 8,000 yogurts by hand, bootstrapped her way through the brutal early days of CPG, and built Sourmilk with a background in private equity, social media guru, and pure hustle. If you’ve ever wanted a real look at what it takes to build a consumer packaged goods brand this is the episode. Go tell kiki you loved this episode and share the love with Sourmilk!

WAKE UP CHICKIANAS ITS YOUR MOTHER HEN. You know Aja Win from TikTok: chaotic fashion hauls, elite niche vocab, and her unhinged sparkle.  In this episode of Schmoozing with Span, we sit down with Aja Win to dive deeper into how niche language builds community how dealing with health issues weirdly gives you chutzpah the kind that makes you show up louder, funnier, and more honest online. Unfortunately, I was sick with basically no voice during this episode. Character-building. Still worth it. Follow along on socials 🐣❤️💕 TikTok Schmoozing:https://www.tiktok.com/@schmoozingwithspan?_r=1&_t=ZT-92etXKaEm58 Insta Schmoozing:https://www.instagram.com/schmoozingwithspan?igsh=MWJ1cHJ4bHc0Mmp4MA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr TikTok Aja:https://www.tiktok.com/@ajawin?_r=1&_t=ZT-92etU0JYdHq Insta Aja:https://www.instagram.com/ajawin?igsh=MW41MGxtYjJpZXRxZQ==

THIS IS NOT A CPG PODCAST. I think in another lifetime I was meant to be a venture capitalist, as I’m literally on the forefront of the NYC CPG girlies community.  This week I’m joined by my camp friend, college friend, fellow Jersey girl, and CPG bestie Gillian. Tons of synergies. The lore runs deep, at camp I was supposed to crown Gillian because we were the queens aka our version of big little…except she ended up having someone else crown her. Important lore. Still unpacking. Years later, we've rekindled over her making the best HOUSE MADE NUT MILK IN NYC @notyourmommasnutmilk, and now she’s launching G’s Cheez in 2026. We get into the behind-the-scenes of starting a business, breaking into the NYC CPG scene, and how camp, college, New Orleans, and Jersey shaped her founder brain and life trajectory. This episode is giving I How Built this & The Toast had a baby.  Follow along on socials: G’s Cheez TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@getgscheez?_r=1&_t=ZT-92CTI2vB2oR G’s Cheez Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getgscheez?igsh=MWFscjlvdWxlZnRmNA== Notyourmommasmilk Instagram: https://www.tiktok.com/@getgscheez?_r=1&_t=ZT-92CTI2vB2oR Schmoozingwithspan TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@schmoozingwithspan?_r=1&_t=ZT-92CTGbqXwCc Schmoozingwithspan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/schmoozingwithspan?igsh=MWJ1cHJ4bHc0Mmp4MA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

So excited to share my first GUEST and of course it had to be the ice cream queen Ellie G. I cold emailed her like a true tech sales girlie, and somehow she said YES. In this episode, we dive headfirst into the big questions: Is remote work actually making me weird? (spoiler: yes, maybe).  Ellie G dives deep into building her small-batch ice cream empire in the West Village (started after a breakup (in Kaballah we would say PAUSE WHAT A PLEASURE)) crushing dream collabs with J.Crew, Bash, and One Trick Pony, and somehow finding spirituality in the middle of balancing it all.  I first discovered her through her beyond relatable video: Is remote work making me weird….? Now Ellie G shares what’s next for her career journey! So grateful Ellie came on the pod, hope you love this episode as much as I loved making it.  Follow along on socials: Ellie G TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elliegers?_r=1&_t=ZT-91Y20buz2Tn Ellie G’S Ice Cream Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elliegsicecream?igsh=MXYwbDdycml0c3k4ZA== Ellie G Instagram: Insta:https://www.instagram.com/elliegerson?igsh=MXI5NnFzdTN6MXJ6Zw== Schmoozing with Span TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@schmoozingwithspan?_r=1&_t=ZT-91Y3jtiNclh Schmoozingwithspan Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/schmoozingwithspan?igsh=MWJ1cHJ4bHc0Mmp4MA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr #NavigatingYour20s #RemoteWorkLife #CorporateGirlie #IceCreamQueen #SmallBatchIceCream #BrandCollabs #WomenInBusiness #CareerJourney #CreativeEntrepreneur #PodcastEpisode #FemaleFounders

It’s my first solo episode, so let’s LISTEN and DONT JUDGE. But seriously, it’s fall so let’s act like it. Today we’re defining what “Doctor Hallin It Fall” really means and how to live a true DHI fall. Span has been having a little too much fun DHI and is now working on finding more balance. Stay tuned to hear more about my fall bucket list. So let’s grab your refined suga free, gluten free, dairy free pumpkin treat and your golden milk latte, and sit back to sip and schmooze.

Sam is officially entering her soft Modern Orthodox era and things are getting well... religious. From a deep spiritual calling to enrolling in Kabbalah 1 (starting IRL in November). Span and her longest friend Brittany set out to do market research for this episode embodying the KazuNori, Kabbalah and Keratin Effect lifestyle IRL... and let's just say they might have Kabbalah'd a little too close to the sun or should we say, the POND 🇬🇧👀. Stick along for the journey on TikTok to see if they make it to London... Follow on socials: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@schmoozingwithspan?_t=ZT-90L33PRlxmf&_r=1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/schmoozingwithspan?igsh=MjF2NHQwMDRuanBy #Kabbalah #KeratinTreatment #SoftOrthodox #SpiritualJourney #ModernOrthodox #JewishPodcast #FunnyPodcast #GlowUpEra #Spiritual #Kazunori #ChabadDating #KeratinEffect

ITS SHOWTIME SCHMOOZERS. The long awaited episode 1 of Schmoozing with Span is finally here. Yes, 3 years ago Span told Alex Cooper she was starting this podcast and she replied, “you have so much to give” (x3 invisible ink). Well, cheers to GIVING. In Episode 1, Jersey girl turned Texas cowgirl discovers FRONKS. Joined by her lifelong best friend Nicole - a soon-to-be frequent flyer on the show - the duo dives into their radio roots, love of fronks, and niche vocab. How far will these friends go to bring fronks to the big apple? Follow on socials: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@schmoozingwithspan?_t=ZT-90L33PRlxmf&_r=1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/schmoozingwithspan?igsh=MjF2NHQwMDRuanBy