Experiences

About Experiences

Experiences is a podcast about humans creating happy memories through their participation in the experience economy. We discuss how brick and mortar retail is changing rapidly, the clear winners in the experience economy, and visit with brands that are not just surviving, but thriving.

Publisher

Experiences App

Category

business · education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

30 Jul 2019

Latest episode

17 Apr 2026

Latest episodes

10 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   17 Apr 2026

   A Chocolate CEO: Jean Thompson's 23-Year Bet on Herself (and Cocoa Farmers)

   Episode: Jean Thompson, CEO of Maeve Chocolate What does it take to rescue a chocolate company after a literal earthquake, a departing CEO, and a distributor bankruptcy — all while raising kids and drawing no salary? Jean Thompson, founder and CEO of Maeve Chocolate (formerly Seattle Chocolate), knows firsthand. In this episode, Mark sits down with his longtime entrepreneur friend Jean for one of the most candid founder stories you'll hear. After nine years of losing money, taking on home equity loans, and at least one roadside panic attack, Jean built a thriving, values-driven chocolate company — and rebranded it entirely in year 33. In this episode, you'll hear: How a Seattle earthquake in 2001 accidentally made Jean the owner of a failing chocolate company Why "this housewife is going to take the company to its knees" became her rocket fuel for years The brutal cash flow reality of physical product businesses — and why growth almost killed them What Jean saw visiting cocoa farms in Ghana (including tribespeople tasting chocolate for the first time) Why she turned down Ferrari of Seattle during her divorce to keep the chocolate company The bold, all-or-nothing rebrand from Seattle Chocolate to Maeve — named after a fierce Irish warrior queen How immersive factory experiences, pop-ups, and a viral book collaboration sold out an entire year's inventory in 36 hours Building an "evergreen" company designed to outlast you Key Themes: Founder resilience, ethical supply chains, experiential retail, rebranding, sustainable growth, women in business, the experience economy Links & Resources: 🍫 Maeve Chocolate: maevechocolate.com (http://maevechocolate.com) 🍫 J.COCO Chocolate: jcocochocolate.com (http://jcocochocolate.com) 📍 Factory tours & tastings available at their Tukwila, WA location 📱 Experiences App (show sponsor): experiencesapp.com (http://experiencesapp.com) The Experiences podcast is brought to you by the Experiences app — the booking system built for Shopify merchants who sell bookable tours, tastings, classes, and adventures. Free 14-day trial in the Shopify App Store.

2. 

   15 Aug 2025

   Creating Tangible Magic: Rachel Lorenz on Medieval Life, Making Stuff, and Reclaiming Human Creativity

   🧵 SHOW NOTES In this episode of the Experiences Podcast, Mark Sandeno welcomes longtime Experiences app user and endlessly fascinating creator, Rachel Lorenz, founder of The Creative Contessa (https://thecreativecontessa.com). From her home in South Korea (by way of Paris, Heidelberg, and Albuquerque), Rachel shares how she turned decades of medieval living history, culinary arts, embroidery, and historic dance into a thriving experiential business. We dive into: 🛡️ How medieval living history turned into a modern-day business 🧠 Why she walked away from AI-threatened translation work to double down on creativity 🍷 What makes “sip and stitch” different from sip-and-paint (hint: actual teaching!) 🌍 The role of culture, travel, and authenticity in her offerings 💡 Why hands-on, real-life experiences are a powerful antidote to digital burnout 🪡 How she’s created a business that helps people feel more human through tactile learning and joyful connection 🔥 Advice for creatives who want to turn their passion into a business 🍖 And the medieval dish she swears needs a comeback: Aloes de Mutton “Humans didn’t evolve for virtual. We evolved to make things. To create. To touch and feel and learn with our bodies. That’s what I offer.” – Rachel Lorenz Whether you’re a creator looking to teach your craft, or just someone desperate for something real, this conversation is your sign to try something different. 🧵 Learn More About Rachel 🔗 Website: https://thecreativecontessa.com (https://thecreativecontessa.com) 📺 YouTube: The Creative Contessa on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@TheCreativeContessa) 📍 Based in South Korea | Online + in-person workshops available 🛍️  Powered by ExperiencesApp.com Want to turn your unique skills into bookable experiences? The Experiences App (https://experiencesapp.com) makes it simple to host workshops, tastings, classes, or anything in between — directly on your Shopify site. ✅ No clunky plugins ✅ On-brand, onsite, with full control of your customer data ✅ Free 14-day trial. No credit card required. If you’re in the business of hosting people, Experiences App is for you. 🎧  Listen & Subscribe Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/experiences/id1478181824) | Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/6kv0s8MJupchfegzHExFh1?si=90fcc38f1bb44c12) | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@experiences_app) | Amazon Music (https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/496392ac-e8fb-47df-a0e6-ba303a23ad0d/experiences) Leave us a review if this episode inspired you!

3. 

   7 Aug 2025

   Avoiding Buses and Buffet Lines: Reinventing Travel with Zach Smith of Anywhere.com

   Welcome to the Experiences Podcast! Mark Sandeno sits down with longtime friend and fellow adventurer Zach Smith, founder of Anywhere.com (https://anywhere.com) — a global travel platform that’s redefining how we explore the world. In this episode, we go deep on: 🌍 The origin story: How Zach went from body surfing and hammocks to building one of the most thoughtful travel companies in the world 🔁 From chance meeting to startup launch: The unlikely business plan that began with a dusty office in Costa Rica 🤝 Why co-created travel matters: Personalized trips, informed travelers, and meaningful connections with local cultures 💡 The Anywhere model: Tech-enabled, human-powered itineraries that deliver immersive, regret-free experiences ⚖️ Mass travel vs. mindful travel: How convenience and cost miss what great travel is really about 🌱 What’s next: New geographies in development (Greece, Morocco, Italy, Mexico) and how Anywhere continues to scale with integrity “If price and convenience are all that matter, we should all be eating at McDonald’s.” – Zach Smith Whether you’re a traveler looking for deeper experiences or an entrepreneur building something that matters, this conversation will challenge your thinking on what modern travel should be. 🌐 Learn More Visit: https://anywhere.com (https://anywhere.com) Follow Anywhere on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/anywhere/) and Trustpilot (https://www.trustpilot.com/review/anywhere.com) Try planning your own trip: anywhere.com (https://anywhere.com) Sponsored by ExperiencesApp.com Are you a retailer looking to offer bookable in-person experiences? Forget clunky third-party booking tools. ExperiencesApp.com (https://experiencesapp.com) lets you sell appointments, classes, and events natively through your Shopify store. → Free 14-day trial, no credit card required. 🎧  Listen & Subscribe Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/experiences/id1478181824) | Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/6kv0s8MJupchfegzHExFh1?si=90fcc38f1bb44c12) | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@experiences_app) | Amazon Music (https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/496392ac-e8fb-47df-a0e6-ba303a23ad0d/experiences) Leave us a review if this episode inspired you!

4. 

   19 Dec 2024

   Nathan Woods - The Ministry of Welcome

   Hospitality expert Nathan Woods shares practical insights on creating meaningful connections through intentional welcome, transforming customer experiences, and building lasting business relationships.

5. 

   28 Oct 2024

   Building Community Through Wine: Jennifer Halleck of Halleck Vineyard

   Building Community Through Wine: Jennifer Halleck of Halleck Vineyard Episode Overview A conversation with Jennifer Halleck about the journey of building Halleck Vineyard, their approach to wine-making, and how they've built a thriving community around their wines. Key Moments Origin Story (1990-2000) Jennifer and Ross Halleck moved from Bay Area to Sebastopol in 1990 Purchased 5 acres, but could only plant 1 acre due to forest coverage One of the first vineyards in Sebastopol Hills area (Russian River Valley/Sonoma Coast) First harvest sold to Fred Scherer in 1999 Won first place at Pinot Noir Summit with their first vintage Business Evolution Started in custom crush facility with Greg LaFollette Initially focused on distribution and restaurants Pivoted to direct-to-consumer (DTC) during 2008 financial crisis Built early customer base through innovative marketing to San Francisco private schools Currently produces 2,500 cases annually Business Model & Strategy Uses custom crush facilities instead of owning winery infrastructure Price range: $59-120 per bottle Wine club ("Inner Circle") membership includes: 6 bottles twice per year Free shipping on 6+ bottle orders Exclusive access to special events and trips Experience-Based Marketing Offers vineyard tastings with education and local delicacies Previously hosted harvest parties where customers could participate Conducts private tastings at customers' homes (12-20 people) Organizes exclusive wine club trips: African safaris European wine tours Adventure activities (kayaking, scuba diving) Keys to Success Focus on personal connections with customers Strong emphasis on experiential marketing Building community through shared experiences Maintaining high-quality standards Effective SEO and online presence Notable Quotes "Being part of the story makes it even better." - Jennifer Halleck on why vineyard visits are important "Ross' favorite line is the way to make a million dollars at a winery is to start with five million." - Jennifer Halleck cheeky comment on the reality of the wine industry Advice for New Entrepreneurs Understand it's a lifestyle business more than a profit center Just take the leap - planning can only take you so far Consider getting formal education in winemaking if starting a winery Build experiences around your product once you have something to sell About Halleck Vineyard Location: Sebastopol Hills, Sonoma County Website: halleckvineyard.com Specializes in: Pinot Noir Known for: Small-batch, high-quality wines and exclusive wine experiences About the Experiences App Experiences app website (http://experiencesapp.com/?source=epi5) The Experiences App (http://experiencesapp.com/?source=epi5) is a comprehensive platform designed for event hosts to seamlessly create, manage, and elevate memorable experiences. From cooking classes to crafting workshops, the app offers intuitive tools for organizing bookings, handling payments, and managing guest communication, ensuring that every detail is covered. Whether you’re a small business or a large event space, the Experiences App helps turn each gathering into a professionally managed, unforgettable occasion tailored to enhance customer engagement and satisfaction.

6. 

   1 Aug 2024

   Heather Swan - The Yarn Queen of Yarncom

   Ever wonder how a passion for yarn could transform into a thriving business and vibrant community? In this episode, we unravel the story of Heather Swan, aka "The Yarn Queen," who left her corporate career to pursue her love of fiber arts. Discover how she built Yarncom and the Midwest Fiber Festival from scratch, navigating challenges and weaving together a loyal customer base. Whether you're a crafting enthusiast or an aspiring entrepreneur, this conversation is bound to inspire and offer valuable insights into the world of experiential retail. Guest: Heather Swan, aka "The Yarn Queen", founder of Yarncom and Midwest Fiber Festival Key Topics: Heather's transition from corporate career to yarn shop owner The $2.5 billion US yarn industry and growing interest in fiber arts Launching Yarncom and the Midwest Fiber Festival Building a passionate fiber arts community in St. Louis Strategies for introducing new customers to knitting and crochet The importance of offering experiences in retail Balancing beginner-friendly classes with advanced offerings Using market research to choose an ideal shop location Tips for new entrepreneurs (e.g. hiring a virtual assistant early) Memorable Quotes: "Our tagline is community through creation." - Heather Swan "Surrounding yourself with people that support you, that believe in you, and that hold you accountable is what has helped me so much." - Heather Swan Where to find Heather: Yarncom: yarncomstl.com Midwest Fiber Festival: midwestfiberfest.com

7. 

   26 Jun 2024

   Jeff Pennypacker - Sweet and Savory Classroom

   I had an amazing conversation with Jeff Pennypacker of Sweet and Savory Classroom, a cooking school experience based in Chatanooga, TN. He and his wife run a very successful cooking school and he shared some tasty insights for any retailer who offers (or wants to) experiences. And, if you're a cooking school, don't pass up this episode as it has some very particular advice for you. Send me your feedback, suggestions, and musings to mark@experiencesapp.com. I'd love to hear from you as long as you're not a spammer. Pre-emptive apology: At the beginning of the podcast, I promised we'd have Jeff share a summary of how to develop a "personal formula" at the show's end. I completely forgot to do that, so we'll do another show with him to discuss the "four realms" and have him speak more about his personal formula process. Show highlights: Jeff's entrepreneurial journey from ice sculptor to cooking school owner with some interesting stops in between How biblical principles drive success in Jeff's business The "Four Realms" and how Jeff uses them in his business How Jeff values his customer's engagement with his business Links and Resources: Sweet and Savory Classroom (https://www.sweetandsavoryclassroom.com/) The 4 Realms of the Experience Economy (https://www.google.com/search?q=four+realms+of+experience+model) The Experiences app If you're a cooking school or any other retailer who values hosting your customers for experiences, you need the Experiences app. It has all the features you need to offer bookable experiences, send out reminders, check in your customers, and Get a 14-day trial of the Experiences app for your Shopify store by visiting our app page on Shopify (https://apps.shopify.com/experiences?show=episode4&auth=1). You can also visit our website here » (https://www.experiencesapp.com/?episode4)

8. 

   26 Aug 2022

   Pre-booked retail experiences are better

   Sure, you can hope that people just show up and start to shop in your store (or chain if you're a retail magnate). But it's much more effective to bring people together through pre-booked experiences - because this is what consumers want. Mark and Chip discuss the mindset and method behind adding pre-booked experiences to your retail offering. And if you're wondering if this applies to what you do...it most certainly does!

9. 

   18 Jul 2022

   How to be in the business of happiness as a retailer

   Mark and Chip discuss the future of the Experiences podcast, retailers' power to curate happiness and thrive, and some other things. At the beginning of this episode, Mark mentions that the first episode is coming down, but then we looked at the stats, and you know what? People are actually downloading it. So this episode makes Mark and Chip sound like liars. This episode is sponsored by the Experiences App, the only real choice for retailers that want to offer booked experiential commerce seamlessly from their Shopify stores while maintaining complete brand control and their customer data.

10. 

    30 Jul 2019

    Why are all the stores closing?

    From Lululemon to the candle business, everything is changing because of the Internet and what consumers value. Even though traditional retail is being wiped out, something better is replacing it that will actually get you back in your car instead of waiting for UPS to show up. The Experiences podcast is sponsored by Experiences™. You can find us at experiencesapp.com (https://experiencesapp.com) Show music by Anonymous420 from FreeMusicArchive.org

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

103,383

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Podcast Authority Score: 34 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

34

Social presence

0

YouTube

82

Engagement

0

Contact Experiences

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.