In this episode of The Growth Class, host Phil Masiello interviews Ian Lopatin, co-founder of Of Course Sanctuary and co-founder and former CEO of Spiritual Gangster.

Ian shares his journey from entertainment law to building At One Yoga and ultimately turning a yoga studio T-shirt concept into Spiritual Gangster, a global wellness and lifestyle brand.

The conversation explores how validating customer demand can create the foundation for scalable growth, how community and culture can turn a product into a movement, and what it takes to build a brand beyond its original market.

Ian also discusses the personal side of entrepreneurship, including the relationship between achievement and stress, his decision to stop drinking, and the mindset shift that came from realizing that greater success does not always lead to greater fulfillment.

He explains how these experiences shaped his next chapter with Of Course Sanctuary, which focuses on meditation, mindfulness, connection, and helping high-performing people live with less stress and greater presence.

Of Course Sanctuary website: ⁠https://ofcoursesanctuary.com/

Support the show

There are a lot of "experts" out there giving advice who’ve never built a thing. They’ve never stayed up all night sweating a product launch. Never had to scale a team. Never had to meet payroll.

They’re just regurgitating what they read in someone else’s book.

That’s not me.
I’ve built brands. I’ve scaled them. I’ve exited them. I’ve failed, won, and fought through it all.

And now, my team and I help brands do it every single day — across eCommerce, retail, and digital.
We don’t just advise — we execute.
We write the playbook.

So if you’re done with fluff, fake gurus, and marketers who’ve never sold anything outside of a slide deck — you’re in the right place.

This show is real strategies, real tactics, and real talk.

https://www.facebook.com/philmasiello

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#StartupGrowth #EcommerceTips

#ScaleYourBrand #DTCMarketing #PhilMasiello #GrowthClass #BrandStrategy #MarketingPodcast #CrunchGrowth #StartupTips #BusinessGrowth

In this episode of The Growth Class, host Phil Massiel interviews Misha Kuryla, founder of Misha’s Cupcakes.

Misha shares the story of building her dessert brand from a home kitchen in 2005 into a multi-location, multi-channel consumer business, offering an honest look at what it takes to scale while preserving the heart of a brand.

They explore the realities of rapid expansion, including managing multiple stores, maintaining product consistency, building the right team, and navigating the operational challenges that come with growth.

Misha also explains how COVID forced a major rethink of the business, leading to store closures, a stronger focus on wholesale, online ordering, and new distribution opportunities. Today, Misha’s Cupcakes continues to evolve through retail, wholesale, nationwide shipping, and new product opportunities, demonstrating how resilience and adaptability can help a consumer brand navigate major transitions.

Misha’s Cupcakes website: ⁠https://mishascupcakes.com/

Support the show

There are a lot of "experts" out there giving advice who’ve never built a thing. They’ve never stayed up all night sweating a product launch. Never had to scale a team. Never had to meet payroll.

They’re just regurgitating what they read in someone else’s book.

That’s not me.
I’ve built brands. I’ve scaled them. I’ve exited them. I’ve failed, won, and fought through it all.

And now, my team and I help brands do it every single day — across eCommerce, retail, and digital.
We don’t just advise — we execute.
We write the playbook.

So if you’re done with fluff, fake gurus, and marketers who’ve never sold anything outside of a slide deck — you’re in the right place.

This show is real strategies, real tactics, and real talk.

https://www.facebook.com/philmasiello

https://www.instagram.com/philmasiello/

https://www.tiktok.com/@philmasiello

https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-masiello/

https://www.youtube.com/@philmasiello

#StartupGrowth #EcommerceTips

#ScaleYourBrand #DTCMarketing #PhilMasiello #GrowthClass #BrandStrategy #MarketingPodcast #CrunchGrowth #StartupTips #BusinessGrowth

In this episode of The Growth Class, host Phil Masiello interviews Layne Mayfield, owner of BBQ Outfitters.

Layne shares how he transitioned from a 12-year career in commercial real estate to entrepreneurship through acquisition, ultimately purchasing the established Texas barbecue retailer in 2021.

They explore the advantages of acquiring an existing business rather than starting from scratch, including the value of an established brand, customer base, and market awareness, as well as the operational challenges that come with scaling an established company.

Layne discusses how BBQ Outfitters consolidated disconnected systems, implemented an operating system to improve accountability and execution, and built a business capable of running without constant owner involvement.

BBQ Outfitters website: https://bbqoutfitters.com

Support the show

There are a lot of "experts" out there giving advice who’ve never built a thing. They’ve never stayed up all night sweating a product launch. Never had to scale a team. Never had to meet payroll.

They’re just regurgitating what they read in someone else’s book.

That’s not me.
I’ve built brands. I’ve scaled them. I’ve exited them. I’ve failed, won, and fought through it all.

And now, my team and I help brands do it every single day — across eCommerce, retail, and digital.
We don’t just advise — we execute.
We write the playbook.

So if you’re done with fluff, fake gurus, and marketers who’ve never sold anything outside of a slide deck — you’re in the right place.

This show is real strategies, real tactics, and real talk.

https://www.facebook.com/philmasiello

https://www.instagram.com/philmasiello/

https://www.tiktok.com/@philmasiello

https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-masiello/

https://www.youtube.com/@philmasiello

#StartupGrowth #EcommerceTips

#ScaleYourBrand #DTCMarketing #PhilMasiello #GrowthClass #BrandStrategy #MarketingPodcast #CrunchGrowth #StartupTips #BusinessGrowth

In this episode of The Growth Class, host Phil Masiello interviews Pattie Friedman and Kristin Wielenga, Co-Founders of Think Royln.

They share how two longtime fashion industry professionals turned a small collection of functional, fashion-forward bags into a growing lifestyle brand built around “life on the fly.”

Pattie and Kristin discuss starting Think Royln with limited resources, using decades of industry relationships to open doors, and recognizing market demand when their bags became the breakout category. They also explore how the brand navigated COVID-19 by staying nimble, strengthening relationships with boutique retailers, and leaning into the growing demand for hands-free, lightweight products.

They also share how Think Royln continues to anticipate the needs of its customers by expanding beyond everyday bags into travel, sports, and other aspects of a modern woman’s lifestyle.

Think Royln website: https://thinkroyln.com/

Support the show

There are a lot of "experts" out there giving advice who’ve never built a thing. They’ve never stayed up all night sweating a product launch. Never had to scale a team. Never had to meet payroll.

They’re just regurgitating what they read in someone else’s book.

That’s not me.
I’ve built brands. I’ve scaled them. I’ve exited them. I’ve failed, won, and fought through it all.

And now, my team and I help brands do it every single day — across eCommerce, retail, and digital.
We don’t just advise — we execute.
We write the playbook.

So if you’re done with fluff, fake gurus, and marketers who’ve never sold anything outside of a slide deck — you’re in the right place.

This show is real strategies, real tactics, and real talk.

https://www.facebook.com/philmasiello

https://www.instagram.com/philmasiello/

https://www.tiktok.com/@philmasiello

https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-masiello/

https://www.youtube.com/@philmasiello

#StartupGrowth #EcommerceTips

#ScaleYourBrand #DTCMarketing #PhilMasiello #GrowthClass #BrandStrategy #MarketingPodcast #CrunchGrowth #StartupTips #BusinessGrowth

In this episode of The Growth Class, host Phil Masiello interviews Meredith Curren and Bari Harlam, co-founders of TROUBLE, also known as TroubleMakers for Good. They explore how challenging the status quo can create better outcomes in business and society, from advancing gender equity to bringing more diverse perspectives into decision-making.

Meredith and Bari explain TROUBLE’s unique model of using merchandise sales and community engagement to generate funding and visibility for organizations working to promote gender equity, while also highlighting the importance of supporting organizations that are already creating meaningful change.

The conversation also examines workplace flexibility, shared parenting, the value of diverse perspectives in business, and how companies can move beyond traditional thinking to build stronger teams and make better decisions.

They also discuss the challenge of reaching younger audiences in an increasingly fragmented media environment and the role of social platforms in sharing factual, purpose-driven content. Learn more about how TROUBLE is building a community of people committed to creating positive change and challenging the status quo.

TROUBLE website: https://troublemakers.org/

Support the show

There are a lot of "experts" out there giving advice who’ve never built a thing. They’ve never stayed up all night sweating a product launch. Never had to scale a team. Never had to meet payroll.

They’re just regurgitating what they read in someone else’s book.

That’s not me.
I’ve built brands. I’ve scaled them. I’ve exited them. I’ve failed, won, and fought through it all.

And now, my team and I help brands do it every single day — across eCommerce, retail, and digital.
We don’t just advise — we execute.
We write the playbook.

So if you’re done with fluff, fake gurus, and marketers who’ve never sold anything outside of a slide deck — you’re in the right place.

This show is real strategies, real tactics, and real talk.

https://www.facebook.com/philmasiello

https://www.instagram.com/philmasiello/

https://www.tiktok.com/@philmasiello

https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-masiello/

https://www.youtube.com/@philmasiello

#StartupGrowth #EcommerceTips

#ScaleYourBrand #DTCMarketing #PhilMasiello #GrowthClass #BrandStrategy #MarketingPodcast #CrunchGrowth #StartupTips #BusinessGrowth

In this episode of The Growth Class, host Phil Masiello interviews Catherine Dennig, co-founder and former CEO of Fursure.

Catherine shares how a deeply personal experience with unexpected veterinary bills inspired her to build a venture-backed pet insurance company that helped thousands of pet owners better prepare for the financial realities of caring for their pets. Drawing from her background as a former Facebook Senior Product Manager, she discusses the realities of startup life—from validating an idea and finding product-market fit to raising venture capital and ultimately achieving a successful exit.

The conversation explores why founders should embrace experimentation before scaling, the importance of doing things that don’t scale in the early days, and how authentic marketing, PR opportunities, and bold decision-making can create outsized growth.

Catherine also reflects on the role of personal development in entrepreneurship, explaining why self-awareness, resilience, and intuition are often the greatest drivers of long-term business success.

Fursure website: https://getfursure.com

Support the show

There are a lot of "experts" out there giving advice who’ve never built a thing. They’ve never stayed up all night sweating a product launch. Never had to scale a team. Never had to meet payroll.

They’re just regurgitating what they read in someone else’s book.

That’s not me.
I’ve built brands. I’ve scaled them. I’ve exited them. I’ve failed, won, and fought through it all.

And now, my team and I help brands do it every single day — across eCommerce, retail, and digital.
We don’t just advise — we execute.
We write the playbook.

So if you’re done with fluff, fake gurus, and marketers who’ve never sold anything outside of a slide deck — you’re in the right place.

This show is real strategies, real tactics, and real talk.

https://www.facebook.com/philmasiello

https://www.instagram.com/philmasiello/

https://www.tiktok.com/@philmasiello

https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-masiello/

https://www.youtube.com/@philmasiello

#StartupGrowth #EcommerceTips

#ScaleYourBrand #DTCMarketing #PhilMasiello #GrowthClass #BrandStrategy #MarketingPodcast #CrunchGrowth #StartupTips #BusinessGrowth

In this episode of The Growth Class, host Phil Masiello interviews Tina Loyd, CEO of Terry Costa.

They explore what it takes to grow and sustain a destination retail brand through changing customer expectations, technology, and market conditions.

Tina shares her journey of taking over Terry Costa in 2007, navigating the challenges of growing the business during a recession, expanding its brick-and-mortar presence and e-commerce operation, and developing an exclusive product line through international manufacturing.

The conversation also examines the importance of creating a memorable customer experience in specialty retail, building a highly trained team, and balancing growth with authenticity.

Tina and Phil discuss the practical challenges of manufacturing, forecasting, logistics, CRM implementation, and adopting AI without losing the human connection that makes a consumer brand distinctive.

Terry Costa website: terrycosta.com

Support the show

There are a lot of "experts" out there giving advice who’ve never built a thing. They’ve never stayed up all night sweating a product launch. Never had to scale a team. Never had to meet payroll.

They’re just regurgitating what they read in someone else’s book.

That’s not me.
I’ve built brands. I’ve scaled them. I’ve exited them. I’ve failed, won, and fought through it all.

And now, my team and I help brands do it every single day — across eCommerce, retail, and digital.
We don’t just advise — we execute.
We write the playbook.

So if you’re done with fluff, fake gurus, and marketers who’ve never sold anything outside of a slide deck — you’re in the right place.

This show is real strategies, real tactics, and real talk.

https://www.facebook.com/philmasiello

https://www.instagram.com/philmasiello/

https://www.tiktok.com/@philmasiello

https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-masiello/

https://www.youtube.com/@philmasiello

#StartupGrowth #EcommerceTips

#ScaleYourBrand #DTCMarketing #PhilMasiello #GrowthClass #BrandStrategy #MarketingPodcast #CrunchGrowth #StartupTips #BusinessGrowth

In this episode of The Growth Class, host Phil Masiello interviews Chris Bray, co-founder of BILLYKIRK and co-founder of Bray Brothers Creative.

Chris shares the story of how he and his brother transformed a simple leather watch strap idea into a heritage brand known for timeless craftsmanship and products designed to last for decades.

Chris also discusses the inspiration behind Bray Brothers Creative, where the team helps companies rethink corporate gifting and hospitality design by replacing disposable promotional items with meaningful, well-crafted experiences that strengthen customer relationships and elevate brand perception.

BILLYKIRK website: https://www.billykirk.com

Bray Brothers Creative website: https://braybrotherscreative.com/

Support the show

There are a lot of "experts" out there giving advice who’ve never built a thing. They’ve never stayed up all night sweating a product launch. Never had to scale a team. Never had to meet payroll.

They’re just regurgitating what they read in someone else’s book.

That’s not me.
I’ve built brands. I’ve scaled them. I’ve exited them. I’ve failed, won, and fought through it all.

And now, my team and I help brands do it every single day — across eCommerce, retail, and digital.
We don’t just advise — we execute.
We write the playbook.

So if you’re done with fluff, fake gurus, and marketers who’ve never sold anything outside of a slide deck — you’re in the right place.

This show is real strategies, real tactics, and real talk.

https://www.facebook.com/philmasiello

https://www.instagram.com/philmasiello/

https://www.tiktok.com/@philmasiello

https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-masiello/

https://www.youtube.com/@philmasiello

#StartupGrowth #EcommerceTips

#ScaleYourBrand #DTCMarketing #PhilMasiello #GrowthClass #BrandStrategy #MarketingPodcast #CrunchGrowth #StartupTips #BusinessGrowth