Shows
The CheckoutAre Entrepreneurs More ADHD?Today we talk about ADHD in entrepreneurship and other neurospicyness. We also discuss everything we learned in season one of The Checkout.
Zoe and John close out Season 1 with a chaotic, thoughtful, and very human conversation on where eCom is headed, what it takes to build a resonant brand today, and why everyone on the internet is a little bit NeuroSpicy.
This Episode:
In our final episode of the season, it’s just Zoe and John—and somehow they cover everything:
What bran...2025-05-281h 18The CheckoutHow Tariffs Affect Small Businesses w/Steven Borrelli From Cuts ClothingA 145% tariff isn’t just a price hike—it’s a slow-motion business killer.
In this episode, the crew sits down with Cuts founder Steven Borrelli to talk about his viral open letter to Trump, the fallout from the latest tariffs, and how eCom brands can survive a 145% hit to their margins. We cover survival tactics, pricing strategies, manufacturer loopholes, and why most people on Twitter are getting it wrong.
In This Episode:
Why Steven’s tweet made it to Trump’s inner circle
The difference between a tariff and an embargo (and why this is the latter)
How brands are...2025-05-071h 19The CheckoutThis Hidden E-commerce Giant Makes BILLIONS In Plain SightThis Hidden E-commerce Giant Makes BILLIONS In Plain Sight
How a six-person team with a terrible website quietly built one of the biggest eCom businesses on the internet—and what the rest of us can learn from it.
In This Episode:
There’s a whole sector of eCommerce you’ve probably never thought about—brands that sell needs, not wants. This week, John, Bart, and guest host Nate Lagos break down the wild success of RockAuto.com and how it exposes a blind spot in the DTC playbook. They also debate the current state of AI ads, what actually moves th...2025-05-021h 22The CheckoutI Got Fired. Whose Fault Was It?John recently got fired from his job. We reflect on whose fault it was, plus tell stories about losing jobs. Today we're chatting layoffs, copywriting breakthroughs, and why the top 10% of spenders might be your only real customers.We kick things off with a brutally honest conversation about getting fired—how it feels, what it means, and why it might actually be your fault. Then Bart drops a VC-backed horror story, and Nate Lagos (VP Marketing @ Original Grain) helps us reframe the whole conversation. From there, we dive into co...2025-04-231h 21The CheckoutPost Malone, LinkedIn Catfishing, Amazon Buying TikTok, and Our Action FiguresToday on the checkout we're talking about Post Malone reaching out to work with one of co-hosts brands and the secret "guy behind the guy" who has build Post Malone's empire into an Empire. We also talk about:How to do -celebrity and influencer collabsHow to build product and personal brand identity. The offers by Amazon and OF to buy TikTokGetting professionally catfishedAI ad hype die down---Chat GPT Prompt for Your...2025-04-171h 10The CheckoutI'm Skeptical of the Kim Kardashian x Nike Collab | The Checkout Ep. 06Kim Kardashian is teaming up with Nike with her brand, Skims. We give our takes on this, plus Poppy’s influencer vending machine backlash. From marketing moves to funding philosophies, we’re breaking down what works, what’s overhyped, and what smaller brands can learn from the biggest names in the game.- Kim Kardashian partners with Nike — genius move or gimmick?- Why Nike needed this… and why Skims might not have- What made Poppy’s influencer stunt controversial?- Was Olipop’s response petty or perfect?2025-04-091h 21The CheckoutAdult Sandboxes & How To Sell More Stuff | The Checkout Ep. 5If you're not selling something to people while they’re out living life… what are you even doing?In this episode of The Checkout, John, Zoe, and Bart dive into how brands can break out of the DTC echo chamber and actually stand out—through physical experiences, creative retail, and lo-fi entertainment. From coffee shops with sandboxes to vending machines in front yards, we explore all the ways brands can drive sales outside of Meta ads.We talk:
Coffee shops with RC cars (yes, really)
Building marketing channels you own
Retail distribution hacks, from state...2025-04-021h 11The CheckoutIf You're Not First You Have to Be Weird | The Checkout Episode 04If you're not #1 in your category… your only hope might be to get really, really weird.In this episode of The Checkout, John, Zoe, and Bart (with Shack out this week) dive deep into what it takes to stand out in a saturated market. From Charleston Chew to Dr. Pepper, sliding mitts to Dad Gang hats, we break down the strategies behind products that win by being different—not bigger.We talk:- Why weird wins when you're not the category leader- Ho...2025-03-271h 23The CheckoutYou Can make Money Or Get Rich, But Not Both | The Checkout Ep. 03Today we're talking about how some businesses can make you a lot of money while others can make you rich, but almost none of them will get you both. ⚡ Subscribe for more eCommerce insights, brand breakdowns, and unfiltered takes!📢 Follow us on social media:Nick ShackelfordTwitter/X: https://x.com/iamshackelfordLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickshackelford/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamnickshackelford/Zoe KahnInstagram: https://www.instagram.com...2025-03-191h 10
The Marketing Millennials318 - How to Grow to 250k Followers in Under 3 Years with Bart Szaniewski of Dad GangWhat do you get when you mix hats, social media channels, and a bunch of dads?Bart Szaniewski and his buddies created Dad Gang with the mission of bringing dads together with cool hats. At first, it was all about creativity. And then it blossomed into multiple channels and multiple dads sharing their stories. Copy and captions became even more important. Hats were being sold faster than they could make them. How can you develop FOMO in your audience? It’s as easy as creating a sense of urgency for your next drop. 2025-03-1935 minThe CheckoutHow To Get Celebrities To Use Your Product | The Checkout Ep. 02In this episode of The Checkout, we dive into a wild challenge—getting LeBron James to wear a DadGang hat! 🧢💥 Host [Your Name] is joined by DadGang co-founder Bart to brainstorm how to pull off this viral stunt. From designing the perfect hat to leveraging social media for maximum hype, we break down what makes challenge content work and why it could be a game-changer for brands.We also discuss:How challenge-based content can drive organic and paid marketing successThe balance between hype and inventory planning in eComm...2025-03-121h 11The CheckoutWhy Are All These Famous Men Starting Alcohol Brands? | The Checkout Ep. 01Why do so many famous men have alcohol brands?Welcome back to The Checkout Podcast, where we break down the latest in eCommerce, brand building, and digital culture—with a little chaos along the way. In this episode, we get into:💥 Why every famous guy has an alcohol brand (The Rock, Ryan Reynolds, Kevin Hart—what’s the deal?)💥 The rise of cannabis beverages and new mind-altering brands💥 AI in eCommerce—will it replace human jobs or just make brands more efficient?💥 The fraud problem nobody...2025-03-051h 24
Office Hours with David MeltzerJoel Thomas, Mitch Warner, Bart Szaniewski, Dov BaronJoel ThomasJoel Thomas is the founder and President of Stratos Jet Charters, Inc., which he established in 2006 with the goal of providing an ethical, educational air charter service to help consumers make informed decisions. His company has flourished by adhering to high-touch customer service practices and maintaining a strong moral foundation, which includes strict voluntary safety standards and a commitment to operational excellence. This approach has contributed to consistent growth for Stratos Jet Charters, helping it become a respected name in the air charter industry.Mitch WarnerMitch Warner...2024-10-2452 min
DTC PodcastEp 449: C-Suite Exclusive – Simplicity at Scale, the DadGang.co story with Bart SzaniewskiSubscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signup
In this special edition of the DTC Podcast, we revisit Bart Szaniewski's powerful presentation from the C-Suite Mastermind in Victoria, BC. Bart, co-founder of DadGang.co, shares his incredible journey from selling his first 100 hats to surpassing 250,000 hats sold.
What started as a simple idea between friends—celebrating fatherhood with style—has blossomed into a multimillion-dollar business. Bart emphasizes the power of keeping things simple while scaling, a principle that has helped DadGang build organic partnerships with top athletes and global organizations, all fuel...2024-10-2127 min
Dad and CompanyThe Rise of Dad Gang With Bart SzaniewskiWelcome to this week's episode of Dad and Company!In this episode, Dylan and Jacob are talking with special guest Bart Szaniewski about:Creating a space for authentic conversations about fatherhood beyond stereotypes and dad jokesThe origin story of Dad Gang, from a supportive text thread to a thriving community brandBalancing entrepreneurship and fatherhood, including overcoming unexpected challengesHow Dad Gang is empowering dads to connect both online and in real lifeHow Dad Gang fills a gap in the market with stylish hats for dadsAnd much more!Learn more about Dad Gang:Dad Gang Website2024-08-1335 min
Shopify MastersA Group Chat Inspired a Multimillion-Dollar Brand"Dad gang" was a common refrain in the founders' group chat before it became the name of their company. Three friends, Bart Szaniewski, Grant Eastey, and Ejay O’Donnell, share how they built a brand from the term.To learn more about Dad Gang and show notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/dad-gang-community
Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.2024-08-0632 min
DTC PodcastEp 400: The DadGang.co Story – From a boosted post, to 100k hats sold -- Bart Szaniewski Speaks!Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signup
Hello and welcome to the DTC Podcast! Today, we're diving into the unique journey of Dad Gang, an apparel brand that’s revolutionizing fatherhood fashion with high-quality hats. Join us as we explore how Bart, a seasoned DTC marketer, shifted from traditional roles to building a community-first brand.
Join the gang! https://Dadgang.co
Why Tune In?
Community Building: Learn how Dad Gang leverages social media to foster a community of dads.
...2024-04-2949 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built#312 - Dad Gang Decoded: Building a Fatherhood Community One Hat at a Time With Bart SzaniewskiBart is building at the intersection of commerce & community and promoting the message of fatherhood through fashion. With a twelve year stint optimizing brands and content, Bart now champions the Dad Gang, a movement that brings dads together under the banner of quality streetwear. We kick off with how he turned a small investment of $750 into a phenomenon that has sold 90,000 hats and counting and is consistently repped by some of the biggest celebrity and athlete dads.Bart breaks down the strategy behind investing strategically in organic content & paid social, which has led to a burgeoning community...2024-02-2945 min
Fail With FireFail With Fire Podcast | Scaling Dad Gang: Bart Szaniewski's Journey to DTC Success!Join us in this episode of "Fail with Fire" as we sit down with Bart Szynewski, co-founder of Dad Gang, an apparel brand revolutionizing dad fashion. In a candid conversation, Bart shares his journey from working in various marketing roles to launching Dad Gang. We delve into the challenges and triumphs of building a brand from the ground up, discussing the importance of community, brand authenticity, and the balance between business growth and personal happiness. Bart also offers invaluable insights into the DTC space, highlighting his experiences and lessons learned. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur, a marketing enthusiast, or...2024-01-1652 min
All Sports BestDad Gang Takes Over The Hat Market | Bart SzaniewskiDads need representation in a world that makes it almost a running meme. Bart Szaniewski, co-founder of Dad Gang Co. joins the podcast to discuss the best year of being in the hat business, or better yet - the dad business!
We got a chance to touch on the feeling of fatherhood, the connection it can bring for men in all walks of life, and even the organic growth the message has landed the Dad Gang brand. The design of the hats has a style for just about everyone and it is in a niche that is...2023-12-2051 min
2 Cent Dad Podcast#66 - DadGang! Side Hustle to Full Time with Bart SzaniewskiBart Szaniewski is one of the founders and the current head of DadGang. HE shares the story of taking it from a side hustle fun idea to his current full-time gig. 2023-10-0434 min
Marketing Talks with Jonathan Cor006: Marketing Talks with Bart SzaniewskiMy guest today has collaborated with the different athletes such as Marshawn Lynch and Saquon Barkley to name a few.
Bart Szaniewski has a background in growth marketing working for B2C apparel companies in Seattle, WA.
He is now the Director of Partner Development for LTV Digital.
Allow for him to share his evolution and growth into the marketing space.
Also, please don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast to receive more content like today's episode.
Interview Resources 🧠
Favorite Tool / Software:
Ins...2020-08-2047 min
Truthpaste PodcastTruthpaste Episode 11 - Beasting Digital Marketing w/ Bart SzaniewskiOn this episode of the podcast I've got my buddy, VP of Marketing/ Head of Branding for Strideline Socks, Bart Szaniewski on the podcast. His story from Poland to the United States, from blog to digital marketing beast. He's giving up free game on product placement, blogging and digital marketing strategies. So much free game! #BrushUp--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/truthpaste/support2018-06-0856 min