In this solo episode, Ariana shares reflections from her first Art Basel in Miami, lessons from attending a democracy-focused conference in D.C., and behind-the-scenes insights from launching Season One of Building Boldly. She closes with a gentle end-of-year check-in to help you reset, stay in community, and step into 2026 with momentum and intention.

Elise Hu, host of TED Talks Daily Podcast, former NPR Seoul bureau chief, and co-founder of podcast studio Reasonable Volume, joins Ariana to talk about risk, reinvention, and how saying “yes” to change led her from local newsrooms to the K-beauty capital, a book deal, and a joyful, long-haul media career.

Arushi Kapoor, art advisor and entrepreneur, Arushi Kapoor offers a new art world playbook: cold calls that open doors, blue-chip acquisitions, and innovative partnerships where culture meets real estate.

Akua Shabaka makes clothes that celebrate the nuanced history of The Diaspora. Listen as she takes us on a spiritual journey of founding her fashion house alongside her mother, using garments as a way to keep the past alive, and the financial realities of producing story-rich clothes for the runway. 

Tara Tan, a venture capitalist at the heart of creative innovations, knows how to attract funders. If you are a creative seeking a different perspective on money, listen here. 

Lillian Shalom’s jewelry has adorned icons like Rihanna, Beyoncé, and Lady Gaga—gracing both the Met Gala red carpet and the halls of New York’s American Museum of Natural History. Hear how Lillian built her singular brand through a distinctive vision, historical inspiration, and unwavering self-belief.

Deniese Davis, producer behind HBO’s Insecure, Rap Sh!t, and One of Them Days gives us the inside scoop about how she made it in Hollywood while still making work that matters to her.