Speak Easy by West Egg Ventures

In this Speak Easy session, Amar and Kaylee take a deep dive into why Costco is one of the strongest fan communities in America. This is more than $1.50 hot dogs, giant cookies, and rotisserie chicken. This is a masterclass in belonging, trust, and identity. We talk about the treasure hunt feeling that keeps people coming back, the insider codes that members share, and the content creators who have turned Costco into a culture. We explore how Kirkland Signature became a fashion and status lab...

Speakeasy: Hockey Romance and the Rise of Sports Fiction** In this episode of Speakeasy from West Egg Ventures, Amar and Kailey dive into one of the fastest growing and most surprising niches in publishing: hockey romance. What started with early hits like Ice Breaker has turned into a cultural wave, powered by BookTok, pun-filled titles, and a huge community of readers who cannot get enough of athletes, slow burn tension, and workplace crushes. We explore why hockey became the heart of the t...

In this episode of Speakeasy, Amar and Kaylee dive into the world of Margaritaville and the legacy of Jimmy Buffett — the songwriter who turned a single song into a global lifestyle movement. From spontaneous bar performances in the Florida Keys to a business empire spanning resorts, cruise lines, retirement communities, restaurants, novels, Broadway, beer, and blender machines — Buffett didn’t just build a brand, he built a way of life. Amar shares his own experience creating content inside ...

From an under-promoted Netflix drop to a full-blown global fandom, K-Pop Demon Hunters became one of the most unexpected cultural explosions of the year. In this episode of Speak Easy, Amar Shah and Kaylee Chicoski unpack how a 90-minute animated film with zero marketing turned into a viral movement—powered by music, mythology, and the unstoppable force of fan culture. 🎯 We talk about: How K-Pop Demon Hunters went from 9 million views to a global phenomenonWhy TikTok became its secret

From arthouse cinema to Tokyo storyboards, this two-part premiere of Speak Easy with Amar Shah and Kaylee Chicoski explores how two global storytelling engines — A24 and Manga — have turned creativity into culture. A24 built a $3.5 billion studio by making film feel rebellious again. Shonen Jump built a billion-dollar ecosystem by listening to fans and turning feedback into franchises. Together, they reveal a simple truth: when you put community first, your audience builds your world for you....

From free continental breakfast to viral TikTok phenomenon, Hampton by Hilton turned a simple waffle into a billion-dollar branding lesson. In this episode of Speak Easy, Amar Shah and Kaylee Chicoski explore how a single small luxury — the make-your-own waffle — became a masterclass in scalable hospitality, user-generated content, and fan engagement. It’s proof that in a world chasing perfection, the most powerful brands win through consistency, comfort, and community. 🎯 We talk about: How

From small-town baseball experiment to sold-out stadium phenomenon, the Savannah Bananas have redefined what it means to be a sports franchise. In this episode of Speak Easy, Amar Shah and Kaylee Chicoski break down how founder Jesse Cole built a fan-first empire that feels more like a movement than a minor-league team. 🎯 We talk about: Why the Bananas have become the Taylor Swift of sports entertainmentHow fan-first thinking created a sold-out global tourWhat brands can learn from putting

From teenage songwriter to billionaire icon, Taylor Swift has rewritten the rules of fame, fandom, and ownership. In this episode of Speak Easy, Amar Shah and Kaylee Chicoski break down how she turned storytelling into strategy and fans into a global movement—proving once again that the future belongs to those who build connection, not just attention. 🎯 We talk about: Why Taylor Swift is bigger than Madonna, Britney, and Michael Jackson combinedThe storytelling magic behind her longevit...