In this episode of Post Run High, I sit down with Elyce Arons, co-founder of Kate Spade and CEO of Frances Valentine, to talk about friendship, entrepreneurship, creativity, and resilience.

Elyce shares the untold story of building Kate Spade from the ground up with her best friend, Kate Spade—from sketching handbags out of construction paper and maxing out credit cards to landing Barneys, Saks, and becoming a cultural phenomenon. We also discuss her upbringing on a Kansas farm, the lessons she learned from her entrepreneurial mother, and how she and her team built Frances Valentine after selling Kate Spade.

Most importantly, Elyce opens up about her decades-long friendship with Kate, the misconceptions people had about her, and how she continues to honor her legacy today.

Topics include:
Building Kate Spade from scratch
Finding product-market fit before social media
The power of friendship in business
Entrepreneurship and taking risks
Growing an iconic fashion brand
Creativity, style, and confidence
Frances Valentine and life after Kate Spade
Grief, legacy, and honoring loved ones

In this episode of Post Run High, I sit down with Elyce Arons, co-founder of Kate Spade and CEO of Frances Valentine, to talk about friendship, entrepreneurship, creativity, and resilience.
Elyce shares the untold story of building Kate Spade from the ground up with her best friend, Kate Spade&mdash;from sketching handbags out of construction paper and maxing out credit cards to landing Barneys, Saks, and becoming a cultural phenomenon. We also discuss her upbringing on a Kansas farm, the lessons she learned from her entrepreneurial mother, and how she and her team built Frances Valentine after selling Kate Spade.
Most importantly, Elyce opens up about her decades-long friendship with Kate, the misconceptions people had about her, and how she continues to honor her legacy today.
Topics include:
<ul data-start="972" data-end="1286">
<li data-start="972" data-end="1006">Building Kate Spade from scratch</li>
<li data-start="1007" data-end="1055">Finding product-market fit before social media</li>
<li data-start="1056" data-end="1093">The power of friendship in business</li>
<li data-start="1094" data-end="1129">Entrepreneurship and taking risks</li>
<li data-start="1130" data-end="1163">Growing an iconic fashion brand</li>
<li data-start="1164" data-end="1199">Creativity, style, and confidence</li>
<li data-start="1200" data-end="1245">Frances Valentine and life after Kate Spade</li>
<li data-start="1246" data-end="1286">Grief, legacy, and honoring loved ones</li>
</ul>

Post Run High features conversations with high-performing founders, athletes, artists, health and science experts, and leaders about what it really takes to succeed. Through honest, post-movement conversations, guests share how they’ve navigated challenges, built resilience, and used movement as a tool for clarity, discipline, and growth. Each episode explores the mindset behind performance — what keeps people going when things get hard — and offers tangible advice listeners can apply in their everyday lives.

Post Run High features conversations with high-performing founders, athletes, artists, health and science experts, and leaders about what it really takes to succeed.&nbsp;Through honest, post-movement conversations, guests share how they&rsquo;ve navigated challenges, built resilience, and used movement as a tool for clarity, discipline, and growth.&nbsp;Each episode explores the mindset behind performance &mdash; what keeps people going when things get hard &mdash; and offers tangible advice listeners can apply in their everyday lives.
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Post Run High

Post Run High is a podcast about honest conversations that happen when people slow down and let their guard drop.

Hosted by Kate Mackz, the show brings together founders, creators, athletes, artists, and thinkers to talk about performance, identity, pressure, and the moments that shape who we become. Recorded after a run, walk, or shared movement, these conversations tap into the clarity that often comes when the body is tired and the mind is open.

This isn’t a show about success on paper. It’s about what people carry behind the scenes — how they cope with doubt, navigate change, stay disciplined, and keep going when things get hard. Post Run High is a space for reflection, perspective, and real insight you can take into your own life.

Post Run High is a podcast about honest conversations that happen when people slow down and let their guard drop.
Hosted by Kate Mackz, the show brings together founders, creators, athletes, artists, and thinkers to talk about performance, identity, pressure, and the moments that shape who we become. Recorded after a run, walk, or shared movement, these conversations tap into the clarity that often comes when the body is tired and the mind is open.
This isn&rsquo;t a show about success on paper. It&rsquo;s about what people carry behind the scenes &mdash; how they cope with doubt, navigate change, stay disciplined, and keep going when things get hard. Post Run High is a space for reflection, perspective, and real insight you can take into your own life.

Post Run High with Kate Mackz

Elyce Arons: Building Kate Spade, Losing a Best Friend & Starting Over

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/64e7c5d2-a50e-4814-8a12-b470011d8f3a/transcript