The Podcast Beat: Barstool CEO Nardini talks #BarstoolFund on 'Token CEO'

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Token CEO is Barstool Sports' CEO Erika Nardini's business podcast.

Written by Johnny Maffei

We are seeing some creativity like no other from young media powerhouse Barstool Sports. When the shutdowns began last March, many business owners began what is now an 11-month battle against closing their doors for good. But now, someone's trying to help.

You could say 2020 started with Penn National Gaming purchasing a part of Barstool Sports to value the company that's changing media at $450M.  Around a month after that was when sports shutdown, but Barstool stayed the course.  They uniquely adapted to these hopefully once-in-a-lifetime circumstances.

As bad as last year seemed, Barstool founder Dave Portnoy started 'The Barstool Fund' around a week before Christmas to send us into the New Year on a much more positive note.

Barstool CEO Erika Nardini used her 1st ‘Token CEO’ podcast episode of the year to bring even more attention to the fund and talk to some of the the hard working female business owners being saved.

I don't want to spoil Nardini's interviews too much, but there are a few things I want to bring to light to show how hard people are working not just for themselves, but for others.

She interviewed 3 women who the fund has helped through these trying times: Brittanie Costa of The Princeton Co, Mimi Council of Dessert'D Organic Bake Shop, and Sherrile Barber of Barber Therapy & Associates.

One funny thing mentioned by The Princeton Co founder, Brittanie Costa, was when the California government made her shut her doors, she started making "designer masks" out of Loui Vuitton scarves as a way to stay afloat during these trying times. She said it was working, but then she got a "cease and desist" letter from Loui Vuitton and they "asked (her) to send all of (her) material back so they can burn it." As if she didn't have enough to worry about, one of the richest fashion companies is threatening her as well.

Costa even offered to work for her grant by helping out with the fund. I guess it speaks to her determination to fight for The Princeton Co. and all of her employees and customers.

'Dessert'D' founder Mimi Council told Nardini how her company is heavily dependent on tourism and events, both of which are basically non-existent at the time. Council had to face heavy restrictions in the spring and fall, but even in the summer when they had a better opportunity for better sales, she still didn't have a chance at wedding clients that usually bring in a lot of revenue.

Council had planned on not making a personal salary for a 3-month period so she could take care of both bills and her employees. On her little spare time she would freelance to make some extra money. The Barstool Fund is helping her bakery stay alive whether it be pay the bills or her employees and helping her, as she so perfectly put it on the podcast, "make sure they can count on coming to work."

The final interview was with Sherrille Barber, the owner and lead therapist at Barber Therapy & Associates. Nardini stressed that it was so important Barstool helped this company because this company is trying to "keep the doors open to help people."

Barber added in her interview that "the demand is greater than ever" for her services, as the number of people struggling mentally is unfortunately rising.

Barber said it was really hard to try to get help until she found out about The Barstool Fund.  She hasn't turned anyone away even if they cannot afford the costs, and the grant has already been spent on much needed costs that are a result of the pandemic.

Portnoy and Nardini have already raised over $18M as of early Tuesday morning.  All of their employees are extremely eager to help whether it be Liz Gonzalez going through all of the emails or Kirk Minihane's 'Golden Ticket' idea.  I personally cannot see it stopping anytime soon.

Last Updated 4:52 a.m. ET (Taken from barstoolsports.com)
The fund is helping people who aren't allowed to open their businesses and go to work.  It's helping people get through these extremely unfair and unprecedented times.  It is positively affecting so many lives in such a creative way.  I'm sure we can all think of a go-to restaurant or different small business that hasn't been able to stay open.  Now, we may all be able to potentially think of a go-to small business that stayed open thanks to everyone who has donated and will donate to The Barstool Fund.

It doesn't hurt to help people.

You can donate here and view merchandise you can buy to support the fund or the businesses directly here.

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for the next 'Podcast Beat' and the rest of Ridin' Pine's authentic content right here on the blog or on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram @RidinPineMGH.

Emerson College '22 | Co-host/Producer of Ridin' Pine | Fmr #1 Show on WSFR | Fmr Full Press Coverage Patriots Writer | Socials: @johnnymaffei45