Hot Takes Big Stakes
Hot Takes Big Stakes
Podcast Description
Hosted by serial founders Natalie Holloway (Bala) and Lana Elie (Floom), Hot Takes Big Stakes dives into the real-world highs and lows of building a business—from early ideas scribbled on napkins to multimillion-dollar raises and the pivotal moments in between.
We explore the unfiltered truths most founders are too polished (or too cautious) to say out loud. No hype, no jargon—just honest conversations about what actually works, what doesn’t, and what it really takes to grow something from nothing.
Each week, Natalie and Lana sit down founder-to-founder to share sharp insights, fresh perspectives, and the kind of candor you rarely hear in the boardroom.
Build your dream. Burn the playbook.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The show explores topics like startup struggles, fundraising challenges, and personal anecdotes from founding journeys, with episodes featuring deep dives such as How Our Place Did $5M in 1 Day, which highlights pivotal moments in business that resonate with current and aspiring entrepreneurs.
The real-world highs and lows of building a business—from early ideas scribbled on napkins to multimillion-dollar raises and the pivotal moments in between. Hosted by serial founders Natalie Holloway (Bala) and Lana Elie (Floom).
We explore the unfiltered truths most founders are too polished (or too cautious) to say out loud. No hype, no jargon—just honest conversations about what actually works, what doesn’t, and what it really takes to grow something from nothing.
Each week, Natalie and Lana sit down founder-to-founder to share sharp insights, fresh perspectives, and the kind of candor you rarely hear in the boardroom.
Build your dream. Burn the playbook.
Danny Alexander, co-founder and Chief Product and Purpose Officer of Who Gives A Crap, shares how a cheeky name, clever packaging, and an audacious mission turned a humble household product into a $100M brand. The team bootstrapped for nine years, then cracked growth by treating every touchpoint as marketing and by learning to land initiatives, not just launch them. Highlights include the infamous 51-hour toilet livestream that powered their IndieGoGo debut, and why donating 50% of profits builds real retention and trust. Danny also breaks down the pivot from a multilingual EU push to a focused Canada relaunch and how DTC plus selective retail keeps the brand experience tight.
More Hot Takes Big Stakes Instagram: www.instagram.com/hottakesbigstakes/
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@hottakesbigstakes/
More on Danny Alexander
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dalexdalex
“Who Gives A Crap” Website: https://us.whogivesacrap.org
More on Natalie Holloway: Personal Instagram: www.instagram.com/natalieholloway/
“Bala” Instagram: www.instagram.com/bala/
“Balacize” Instagram: www.instagram.com/balacize/
Substack, “Working Out in Heels”: natalieholloway.substack.com
Book a 1-on-1 Call: intro.co/NatalieHolloway
More on Lana Elie-Meyers:
Personal Instagram: www.instagram.com/lanaelie/
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lana-elie-875b383a/
00:00 Intro
00:49 Danny’s background in industrial design and social impact
05:12 The name “Who Gives A Crap,” testing and why it stuck
08:20 Packaging as marketing, paper wrap insight
10:00 The stripe concept and present-style unboxing
11:35 Mission talk, 50% of profits to impact
15:56 Bootstrapping for nine years, why investors said no
16:53 IndieGoGo strategy and the $50K threshold
17:48 The 51-hour toilet livestream
24:58 Early UK retail moment and momentum check
26:18 “Everything is marketing,” touchpoints that spread
27:51 One big thing per year, the focus thesis
31:06 Second brand experiment and hard tradeoffs
34:53 Launch vs land, scaling lessons
36:10 Europe attempt, translation reality check
36:44 Pivot to Canada, partnerships and pre-launch plan
37:25 DTC first, selective retail like Whole Foods
52:31 Wrap up and call to action
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