Vault: Sarah Blakely Joins The Show

Summary

The Bert Show: Vault – Sarah Blakely Joins The Show

Podcast: The Bert Show
Host: Pionaire Podcasting (Bert & Cast)
Air Date: November 20, 2025
Guest: Sarah Blakely, Founder of Spanx

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Episode Overview

This lively and humorous episode features Sarah Blakely, the self-made billionaire founder of Spanx, sharing her entrepreneurial journey, lessons learned, and the motivation behind her philanthropic foundation. The hosts and Sarah engage in a candid conversation about business, rejection, product innovation, and empowering women, peppered with listener calls and funny banter. The episode is both an inspiring business story and a tribute to following your instincts.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Origin of Spanx and the Power of Creativity in Traffic (02:03–03:31)

• Sarah shares how the idea for Spanx was born out of her frustration with traditional women's undergarments and uncomfortable pantyhose.

• Memorable Moment: The name “Spanx” popped into her mind while sitting in Atlanta traffic—turning mundane hours into a creative goldmine.

  "That's where I thought of the name Spanx. It's good for something sitting in Atlanta traffic."
  —Sarah Blakely (02:11)

• She discusses rejected names, like "Open Toed Delilahs," and how settling on “Spanx” was a turning point (02:44).

2. The 101 on Sarah Blakely and Spanx (03:31–04:00)

• Sarah gives a concise history: She invented footless pantyhose with just $5,000, cold-called prestigious retailers, and got her big break on Oprah.

• The initial journey was intensely DIY: writing her own patent, packaging her product, and selling out of her apartment.

  "Oprah called, and she chose Spanx as her favorite product of the year... I quit my job selling copiers and just went on the road promoting it."
  —Sarah Blakely (03:33)

3. The Invention's “Aha” Moment—Necessity is the Mother (04:00–05:26)

• The product was created out of personal need when she was unable to comfortably wear her white pants.

• Sarah recalls cutting the feet off her own pantyhose—sparking “it works!” but with rolling fabric challenges.

  "I literally cut the feet out of my own control top pantyhose... went to the party in Buckhead and was like, this works."
  —Sarah Blakely (04:12)

• She realized most women’s undergarments were designed by men, inspiring her to optimize fit and comfort for women.

  "Men have been making all of our undergarments, and so maybe that's why they've been so uncomfortable."
  —Sarah Blakely (05:01)

4. Rejection and Relentlessness—Breaking the Mold (05:53–07:30)

• Sarah faced two years of rejection, primarily from men and patent attorneys who didn’t understand or value her idea.

• She taught herself intellectual property by buying books and did everything (from the patent to the logo) herself.

• Insider story: Her first “yes” came after a bold move—taking a Neiman Marcus buyer to the bathroom to do a Spanx before-and-after demo (06:38–07:12).

  "I had no shame. I did my own before and after for her, and she just said, 'I'm sold.'"
  —Sarah Blakely (07:06)

5. The Role of Intuition and Protecting Your Ideas (07:39–10:03)

• Sarah describes a low point and her spiritual “sign from the universe,” which came when Oprah demonstrated her own cut-up pantyhose on TV—giving Sarah the nudge to persist.

• She gives practical advice: Don’t share the specifics of your idea too early to avoid discouragement and protect your creative energy.

  "Don't tell people your specific idea... once you put it out there, your ego gets involved and you have to defend it."
  —Sarah Blakely (08:12)

6. Humor, Humility, and Real-World Business Lessons (10:03–11:25)

• The value of beginner’s mind: Sarah never had a business degree and didn’t know what an “exit strategy” was.

• She refers to her journey as a “real world MBA.”

  "I'd never taken a business class in my life... after I'm inventing and sitting in my apartment, they're like, 'What's your exit strategy?' I'm like, 'What are you talking about?'"
  —Sarah Blakely (10:34)

7. The Science of Naming—Why “Spanx” Works (11:10–12:08)

• Sarah focused on the “K” sound (like Kodak or Coca Cola), which comedians say provokes laughter.

• She chose “Spanx” deliberately for its catchy phonetics and changed the ending to “X” for better brand recognition (11:25–12:08).

  "Kodak and Coca Cola… they have the K sound. Stand up comedians, the K sound will make your audience laugh... at the last minute, I changed the KS to an X."
  —Sarah Blakely (11:25)

8. Listener Calls—Testimonials, Praise, and Product Questions (12:22–16:31)

• Listeners call in with praise for Spanx’s effectiveness, sharing how it boosts confidence and smoothens figures (13:24).

• Product expansion: Sarah discusses new products like “Mama Spanx” for maternity wear and a lower-priced line (“Assets” at Target) (16:07–16:31).

• She explains features like the “double gusset” (not a ‘trapdoor’) for bathroom ease in specialty garments (14:11–14:33).

  "There is a crotch that, you know, has a double crotch that will open when mother nature calls if you don't want to take the whole garment off."
  —Sarah Blakely (14:19)

9. Philanthropy—The Sarah Blakely Foundation (16:38–22:08)

• Sarah describes being chosen by Richard Branson (after competing on his show “Rebel Billionaire”) to launch a foundation with a $750,000 check.

• The foundation’s launch event in Atlanta raised $600,000 to send girls from South Africa to college.

• Sarah emphasizes that 100% of donated funds go directly to supporting women’s education and entrepreneurship globally—she personally covers administration costs.

  "If anyone wants to donate any money to the Sara Blakely foundation, it all goes to a girl who's going to make a difference in the world."
  —Sarah Blakely (22:55)

• Heartwarming anecdotes about Nelson Mandela and the surprise cultural experiences for visiting South African scholarship recipients.

10. Final Thoughts and Resources (22:33–23:13)

• Spanx’s charitable initiative is ongoing, with a portion of all sales supporting women worldwide.
• Listeners can learn more at sarahblakelyfoundation.com.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Origin Stories:
  "I'm trying to give the 101." —Sarah Blakely (03:59)

• On Going Against Industry Norms: "I did it all with $5,000... and once I finally got a hosiery mill to make me my first prototype, I called the Neiman Marcus buyer in Dallas and said, hey, I'm Sarah Blakely. Will you give me 10 minutes? I'll fly there and show you my invention." —Sarah Blakely (06:51)

• On Listening to Your Gut:
  "We’ve got so much going on in our gut. And when you put it out there, you get farther and farther from your gut." —Sarah Blakely (09:35)

• On Self-Funding Philanthropy:
  "I'm funding absolutely everything. So if anyone wants to donate any money to the Sara Blakely foundation, it all goes to a girl who's going to make a difference in the world." —Sarah Blakely (22:55)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:03] – Introduction of Sarah Blakely, background, and Spanx's origin
• [04:12] – The pantyhose “aha” moment
• [05:01] – Gender bias and why women’s undergarments were uncomfortable
• [06:09] – Rejection and persistence through skepticism
• [07:39] – Oprah’s indirect encouragement; “don’t share your idea too early” advice
• [10:34] – Humorous take on “exit strategy” and real-world business lessons
• [11:25] – Psychological branding behind the Spanx name
• [12:22] – Listener calls and community testimonials begin
• [13:24] – Influence on women's dress choices and confidence
• [14:11] – The "double gusset" feature explained
• [16:31] – Discussion of "Assets" brand and distribution at Target
• [16:38] – Sarah Blakely Foundation, Richard Branson story, and Nelson Mandela meeting
• [22:33] – Philanthropy details and donation mission statement
• [23:09] – Closing and website information

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Episode Tone and Style

Upbeat, honest, and fun, full of Sarah’s humility and the hosts' quirky humor. The show balances detailed entrepreneurial lessons with light-hearted banter and spontaneous laughter. It’s a relatable mix of business insight and morning radio energy, making Sarah’s story accessible and memorable.

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Summary

Sarah Blakely’s journey from copier sales to billionaire entrepreneur and philanthropist is packed with resilience, humor, and practical wisdom. She underscores the power of intuition, the importance of persistence in the face of doubt, and the value of creating products “by women, for women.” The episode not only inspires budding innovators and makers but also sheds light on the power of giving back—and laughing along the way.

Transcript

[Gift Wrapping Host]

Oh hey, welcome to gift wrapping.

[Sarah Blakely]

Whoa.

[Gift Wrapping Host]

So is Saldana.

[T-Mobile Representative]

Hey, can you wrap these please?

[Radio Host (Burt)]

Wow.

[Gift Wrapping Host]

IPhone 17s.

[T-Mobile Representative]

You splurged at T Mobile. You can get four iPhone 17s on them. The new center stage front camera is amazing for group selfies. It's the perfect gift for everyone.

[Gift Wrapping Host]

I'm the worst. I only got my mom a robe.

[T-Mobile Representative]

Well, it's better than socks.

[Gift Wrapping Host]

So I have to trade in my old phone, right?

[T-Mobile Representative]

No AT T mobile. There's no trade ins needed when you switch. Keep your old phone or give it as a gift.

[Gift Wrapping Host]

Incredible.

[T-Mobile Representative]

In fact, wrap up my old phone too for my aunt Rosa. Forget that. Aunt Liz will be jealous.

[Gift Wrapping Host]

Sounds like my family drama.

[T-Mobile Representative]

Oh, I got it. I'll give it to my abuela. I'll take reindeer paper with. Hey, where are you going?

[Sarah Blakely]

To T Mobile.

[Gift Wrapping Host]

The holidays are better. AT T Mobile get four iPhone 17s on us. No trade in needed when you switch plus four lines for just 25 bucks a line. And now T Mobile is available in US cellular stores with 24 monthly bill credits and four eligible board inside essentials for well qualified customers. Auto pay + taxes fees and $35 device connection charge credits and in medical balance due if you pay off earlier. Cancel contact US Finance Agreement 256 gigabytes. 830 required. Visit T mobile.com.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

I don't know about.

[Hers Medication Advertiser]

You, but it feels like you can't go anywhere without hearing about GLP1 medications. I mean, it's like the topic right now. Whether it's your group chat, if you're at brunch, or if you have that friend who lost a lot of weight and suddenly knows everything about GLP1s. But how do you know if GLP1s are actually right for you? That's the tricky part. Hers is making women's healthcare so much easier. They connect you with a real medical provider who helps you find the best plan for your goals and your budget and if the medications right for you. It's all part of a doctor developed program with check ins, ongoing care and 24. 7 support. No weird hidden fees, no memberships. Just help that actually fits into your life. Whether you want to lose weight or grow thicker fuller hair or find relief from anxiety, hers has you covered. Visit for hers.combert to get a personalized affordable plan that just gets you. That's F-O-R-H-E-R S.com Bert for hers.com Weight loss by hers is not available everywhere. Compounded drug products are not approved or evaluated for safety Effectiveness or quality by the fda. Prescription required. See website for full details. Important safety information and restrictions. Actual price depends on product and plan purchased.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

You're on the Burch show. Sarah Blakely joins the Birch showing at Q100 right now. How are you?

[Sarah Blakely]

I'm awesome. How are you?

[Radio Host (Burt)]

Thank you for coming in.

[Sarah Blakely]

You know what? Traffic can't be that bad in Atlanta. That's where I thought of the name Spanx. It's good for something sitting in Atlanta.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

Traffic. Yes.

[Sarah Blakely]

Serious.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

We have gotten times from time to time from people that say their most creative times in the day are that hour or that hour and a half. If you can just accept it and, like, become creative and embrace it a little bit.

[Sarah Blakely]

I thought of so many bad names for the company, and just one day I was in traffic forever, and literally the word popped in front of me. Spanx. And I was like, that's it. So that's where it arrived in my consciousness in traffic.

[Radio Co-host (Female)]

What are some of the rejected names?

[Sarah Blakely]

Oh, God. Open Toed Delilahs.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

That's like a band that would play outside of Music Mid center, the locals only stage.

[Sarah Blakely]

I don't think I'd be sitting here with you guys. Right. If I named it that. This is bad.

[Radio Co-host (Female)]

They're actually at the Earl on Friday night.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

For those that don't know who Sarah Blakely is or what Spanx is, give us the 101 course on both.

[Sarah Blakely]

Okay. The 101 is. I invented footless pantyhose out of my apartment in Virginia highlands. I had $5,000 in my savings. I was selling copiers at the time. But I discovered the best undergarment, you know, out there and. And went on the Internet, got it made in North Carolina, cold, called Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and got my start on Oprah.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

Jeff. That was Jeff.

[Sarah Blakely]

I did. Oprah called, and she chose Spanx as her favorite product of the year. And so I had semi trucks coming to my apartment twice a week with boxes of Spanx. I quit my job selling copiers and just went on the road promoting it.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

And we're so missing some stuff in this history. We're so missing. It's almost going, like, too fast.

[Radio Co-host (Male)]

I thought of this thing in my apartment. Then Oprah called, then the semi came. And look here.

[Sarah Blakely]

I'm trying to give the 101.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

Yeah, we're going way, way, way, way too fast. So you were a copy salesperson before? Yeah. And was there a specific time when the idea came to you? Were you, like, putting on pantyhose? You didn't like the way you looked. Do you remember that night?

[Sarah Blakely]

Yeah, actually, I do. I had white pants that I'd spent a lot of money on. They hung in my closet. Like every woman in America, you've got something that's just hanging in. You're trying to figure out what to wear under it. And you could see the thong. You could see the panty line. I went shopping for body shapers at 27 for the first time. I was mortified. They were too thick. They left lines on my thighs, they pinched my waist. And one day, I literally cut the feet out of my own control top pantyhose, put on my white pants, my strappy shoes, looked great. Went to the party in Buckhead and was like, this works. But they rolled up my legs all night. So I thought, okay, if I can comfortably figure out how to get them just below the knee and stay there. This isn't thick. It smooths you out. It makes you look a size smaller. I can still breathe. It gets rid of the panty line. This will be a home run.

[Radio Co-host (Female)]

Still breathing is key in that whole thing because even just regular, straight up pantyhose, sometimes you can't breathe.

[Sarah Blakely]

Well, you know what I realized as a woman? It never dawned on me. Men have been making all of our undergarments, and so maybe that's why they've been so uncomfortable, you know? And when I went to the hosiery mill, I found out that the mills have been taking an average waistband between the smallest and the largest size and putting that middle size on every pair to cut costume reduction product and cost. Cut cost. I'm still, like, hungover from my party.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

Sorry. Anyway, I've got the most caffeinated coffee you've ever had in your life, if.

[Sarah Blakely]

You want to anyway. But it just freaked me out because I said, you know, you know, Spanx, I'm going to size my waistbands. Because we've been miserable. If an A woman needs an A waistband and an E woman needs an E waistband, we cannot put the same waistband on all of them. So little tricks that I learned, and I think that's why all the celebrities are so vocal about it. I'm not paying any of them to flash their Spanx on the red carpet. I mean, they've really embraced it. And I think it's because of how comfortable it is.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

I'm always excited, like, because an overnight success generally takes, like, what, five, eight years, right? So I'm assuming, because what you said is that men have been designing this part of the industry for so Long. Like, how much rejection did you get right off the bat with this kind of crazy idea?

[Sarah Blakely]

Two years.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

Two years?

[Sarah Blakely]

Yeah. For two years at night and on the weekends, I was trying to get my idea off the ground, and not one person thought it was a good idea.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

Were these all men that you were going to?

[Sarah Blakely]

Yeah.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

All of them?

[Sarah Blakely]

Yeah, all of them. The patent attorneys that I was going to were men, and they were laughing at me. One patent attorney here in Atlanta later admitted he thought my idea was so bad, he thought I'd been sent by Candid Camera. I mean, really? And I went to Barnes and Noble in Buckhead and bought a book on patents and trademarks and wrote my own patent. I trademarked the name Spanx online. I incorporated online. I designed the packaging on my friend's computer here in Atlanta. I mean, literally, I did it all with $5,000. And then once I finally got a hosiery mill to make me my first prototype, I called the Neiman Marcus buyer in Dallas and said, hey, I'm Sarah Blakely. Will you give me 10 minutes? I'll fly there and show you my invention. And she said, if you're willing to fly here, I'll give you 10 minutes. And within five minutes of meeting with her, I was like, you know what? You just need to come to the bathroom with me. And I did. I had no shame. I did my own before and after for her, and she just said, I'm sold. I'll put it in seven stores and see how it goes.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

Just like that.

[Sarah Blakely]

Yeah. And I called my mill owner, and I'm like, sam, Sam, I need more Spanx. And there was dead silence. And he goes, sarah, I thought you were gonna give these as Christmas gifts for five years. Like, he still thought the idea was so bad and didn't make sense. He's like, what do you mean you landed Neiman Marcus? I'm like, atlanta Neiman Marcus.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

At any point at all when you were being rejected for two years, were you like, okay, I'm obviously wrong here. These people are trained. This is their industry. They know, I'm just gonna give this up and try something else?

[Sarah Blakely]

I did, actually, and this is an interesting part. Oprah's had a lot to do with my journey on this, but I completely stopped what I was doing and released it. And I remember the moment where I said, I'm letting go of this. Give me a sign. I'm either supposed to do this or I'm not supposed to do this. And two months later, I finished a sales seminar early at the End of it, I went to my hotel room, flipped on the end of Oprah, and that day she lifted her pant leg and showed the world she too had cut the feet out of her pantyhose.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

Now, the day that you asked for the sign, this happened. Or this was six months later.

[Sarah Blakely]

Two months later.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

Two months. Okay.

[Sarah Blakely]

I totally.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

You were gonna wait a long time for that sign, weren't you?

[Sarah Blakely]

I was, Yeah, I was. I mean. Cause I was so in my head about it. And everybody kept saying, it's not a good idea. And I give all this speeches, and one of the main things that I tell people who have ideas is don't tell people your specific idea. Not because you are worried it's going to get knocked off. Most ideas never get knocked off until you're already a success at market, and a lot of people get really paranoid in the process, but because once you put it out there, then your ego gets involved and you have to defend it and explain it, and you end up not pursuing it. So for one solid year, none of my friends, none of my family knew the exact idea. They just said, oh, Sarah's working on that invention. Maybe we'll find out what it is. And it was a year later, after I'd already put enough of my heart and soul into it, I brought it up and then I got the, well, Sarah, sweetie, if it's such a good idea, why hasn't somebody else done it? You're going to spend your whole savings, and then if it is a good idea, the big guys will knock you out of the park the next day. And if I'd heard all that the first day or the first week that I had the idea, I probably never would have done it.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

That sounds like such good advice to me, because I think that within your circle, I think there is. There's almost like this subconscious or underlying feeling like I want my friends to do well, I just don't want them to do as well as I'm doing or. And I certainly don't want them to do better than I am. So if you start, like, sharing that idea, I don't know if it's consciously or subconsciously. You can get all caught up in that negativity based on whatever reason it is.

[Sarah Blakely]

I just think we've got so much going on in our gut. And when you put it out there, you get farther and farther from your gut. You know, my initial gut was like, this works, Sarah, look. Look at what it's done for your own wardrobe. You wear all these clothes in your Closet that you haven't been wearing. You buy lighter colors that you don't wear. You're not alone. And so I just stuck with that. And I think if I had brought it up, you know, you really do. You start getting farther and farther from that sort of intuitive voice that's telling you what you need to know.

[Radio Co-host (Female)]

Well, it's a good thing she followed her gut. I mean, I think Jen's the same way, because every time I have dress pants on, every time I have a dress, I have Spanx in my top drawer. For every occasion, you have to. It is like, it is like a wedding requirement at this point. Like you to know what shoes you're wearing, what dress you're wearing, and what Spanx are gonna go with it.

[Sarah Blakely]

Right.

[Radio Co-host (Female)]

Like, seriously, it is. And I don't think, you know, I don't think anybody says yes to being a bridesmaid without their Spanx in hand anymore.

[Sarah Blakely]

Right.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

Could anybody have said anything to you to make you stop this Spanx process?

[Sarah Blakely]

Yeah, I think so in the beginning. I think if I had heard that stuff in the beginning, I would have. I would have not pursued it, really. Also, I was so. I didn't know enough to know, and I think that helped. I'd never taken a business class in my life, Made all my friends that went to business school, Harvard. All these things, you know, after I'm inventing and sitting in my apartment, they're like, what's your exit strategy? I'm like, what are you talking about? I want to exit a room and look good. Like, I have no idea. I have been really getting my real world MBA in this journey.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

I love your story. Congratulations.

[Sarah Blakely]

Thank you.

[Radio Co-host (Female)]

I wanted to ask you quickly about the name of the company, because I was reading on your website sort of the ideas behind the name, and I thought it was interesting. It did come to you in traffic, like you mentioned at the beginning. But I thought it was so fascinating how you came up with what sound you wanted.

[Sarah Blakely]

Right. Well, I open toed Delilah's. All these horrific names that have been coming to me for a year and a half. And I narrowed it down in my mind because I started thinking, all right, Kodak and Coca Cola are the two most recognized names in the world. What do they have in common? And I just started playing with it in my mind. I said, okay, K sound. They have the K sound. And I have friends that are stand up comedians. And I know it's this weird trade secret among comedians that the K sound will make your audience laugh. So in that moment, I thought, all right, for good luck, I want my name to have the K sound in it. And that's when Spanx in traffic came to me, and I was like, okay, it's got the K sound. And the last minute, I changed the KS to an X because I did research that made up words do better for products than real words do. It's also much easier to trademark.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

It's also the day the Burke show was born. Had I known that years ago, that's what we would have gone with.

[Radio Co-host (Male)]

We could put letters all over the place and people still won't laugh at it.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

Good morning, Jennifer. You're on Q100 in the Burt show with Sarah Blakely, the founder of Spanx.

[Caller Jennifer]

Hi there. I have a great question. Where can I find these? This is awesome. I've never heard of it.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

This is the first time you've ever heard of Spanx?

[Caller Jennifer]

Yes. And you said it's S P A N, X. Yeah.

[Sarah Blakely]

And you got to spell that right or you're going to get a real treat.

[Caller Jennifer]

I didn't think about that.

[Sarah Blakely]

Ew. Yes. S P A N X.com is my website, and you can get them in the hosiery department at Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's. You can get them at several boutiques throughout Atlanta, like Intimacy and Phipps Plaza, Mitzi and Romano in the Highlands.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

Were you born and raised here?

[Sarah Blakely]

No, I'm from Florida.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

You're from Florida?

[Sarah Blakely]

Yeah.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

Did you go to Florida?

[Sarah Blakely]

I went to Florida.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

Did you go to Florida State?

[Sarah Blakely]

I went to both.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

You went to both? Yeah. You're not allowed to do that.

[Radio Co-host (Female)]

That's why there's.

[Sarah Blakely]

I'm never unhappy on game day. No, but does that help?

[Radio Host (Burt)]

It's a different caller now. She's gone. Good morning, Jessica. You're on Q100 in the virtual.

[Radio Co-host (Female)]

Good morning.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

Hey.

[Caller Jennifer]

Oh, my goodness, girlfriend, you rule. A lot of girls. I don't hear you telling them about, but those Spanx, we have dimples in our booty. When you put the pants on, sometimes when you're in thongs, you can see the dimples. People can see them. Covers them up completely, and then sometimes even makes you go down a size, which is so much better. And I'm telling you, girls at work. I've got like 40 girls at work calling me on the weekends. Just where can I get them? Where can I get them? They rule. This is the best invention for women ever. So I just want to say thank you. Thank you. Thank you for these things.

[Sarah Blakely]

Thank you. Awesome. To hear.

[Radio Co-host (Female)]

Now, did I hear that there's a trapdoor in some of these recently or. No. A trapdoor like that, you don't have to pull them down, but you could.

[Sarah Blakely]

Go to the balls room. I've never heard that.

[Knox from the Popcast]

Yes.

[Radio Co-host (Female)]

I wasn't sure what else to call it.

[Sarah Blakely]

We call it the double gusset.

[Radio Co-host (Female)]

Oh, that's really nicer than the trap door.

[Radio Co-host (Male)]

Like on the guys tighty whities. Just a little boop. Just open it.

[Sarah Blakely]

Yeah. Listen, on the high waisted one, where it goes. Goes all the way up below your bra. We didn't want to have to take off your whole dress, your whole outfit. So. So, yes, there is a crotch that, you know, has a double crotch that will open when mother nature calls if you don't want to take the whole garment off.

[Radio Co-host (Female)]

Is that brilliant or what? I mean, is that brilliant?

[Radio Host (Burt)]

The double gossip.

[Sarah Blakely]

But listen, I got to tell you.

[Radio Co-host (Male)]

Guys have been doing that for years. Fruit and loom invented that, dude.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

I've never used it. I've never used it.

[Radio Co-host (Male)]

Me neither.

[Radio Co-host (Female)]

Seriously.

[Sarah Blakely]

Men don't use that.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

We don't use that.

[Radio Co-host (Female)]

No, never in pantyhose.

[Radio Co-host (Male)]

Men don't wear tighty whitey, like she.

[Radio Co-host (Female)]

Said, when you're in a nice fancy dress. They don't understand because they don't have to go through the whole thing when they go to the bathroom every single time.

[Sarah Blakely]

So the only thing.

[Radio Co-host (Male)]

Here we go now how hard it is to be a woman.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

Even on the box of reach, they have that trapdoor in front. No guy uses that.

[Sarah Blakely]

Really?

[Radio Host (Burt)]

Don't you use that? Yes. You do not.

[Radio Co-host (Male)]

What do you do down any urinal?

[Radio Host (Burt)]

Yeah. I mean, not all the way down to my knee. Not all the way down to my knees. It's not like on my 4 year old. And they have to come all the way down to my ankles every time. I never use that door. I've never used it.

[Radio Co-host (Male)]

Come on.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

Never once.

[Radio Co-host (Male)]

You are 100% the minority.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

I guarantee you I'm not. Yes.

[Radio Co-host (Male)]

How much?

[Radio Host (Burt)]

I'll bet you a million. I'll bet you everything that's in Sarah Blakely's bank account. Avery, Gina. Good Morning. You're on Q100.

[Caller Jennifer]

Hey, good morning.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

Hi.

[Caller Jennifer]

I like to say that your story is so inspirational. And I just. You know, the first time I heard the word spanks, I heard it on the red carpet. And just to think that the person who created it lives right here in the atl. I mean, that is just a great story. And I still cut my feet out of my pantyhose and just want to know what colors do they come in and what is the price point?

[Sarah Blakely]

That's a great question. They come in nude and black, and then my full hosiery comes in a variety of colors. There's. There's also a color called cocoa that they come in, and the price points range between 20 and $28. But I just recently came out with another brand called assets, which is about half the price point at every target in the country.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

Very cool. Every target in the country.

[Sarah Blakely]

Every target in the country.

[Radio Co-host (Female)]

Awesome.

[Radio Co-host (Male)]

That'll be a nice little check.

[Sarah Blakely]

Well, it gives me. It's awesome because it gives me an opportunity to give back a portion of all the sales.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

Yeah. Let's talk about the Sarah Blakely Foundation. I mean, you got a nice little lift here from Richard Br. For those that don't know about the television show, and I mean, a huge party this weekend in Atlanta. Tell everybody about that and the foundation.

[Sarah Blakely]

Yeah, that was a dream. I was on the Richard Branson show, Rebel Billionaire. I, you know, I was told it was gonna be sort of the version of the Apprentice, but around the world was Sir Richard Branson, the wild guy who started Virgin, and he's a business hero of mine. I thought it would be a great opportunity to hang out with him. I showed up in England. I got selected for the show. There were 16 of us. And I go, hi, I'm Sarah. I'm the entrepreneur. And they're like, that's nice. And I was like, excuse me. And the first thing I had to do was scale the side of a hot air balloon at 9,000ft in the air on a dangling rope ladder and have tea on top with Richard. And I'm afraid of heights. So I clung to the bitter end Richard gave me. Unbeknownst to the Fox executives and everyone, I did not win the show. The winner, Sean, got a million dollars from Fox. Richard turned to me and said, sarah, I have not forgotten about you, and handed me his paycheck for doing the show, which was $750,000, and said, Go start a woman's foundation of your choice. And this past Saturday night in Atlanta, downtown Ritz, downtown Macy's building, we had 1200 people come out and support the Sarah Blakely foundation launch. Sir Richard Branson flew in from England, had never been here. It exceeded all of my wildest expectations. I mean, my team worked day and night for three months. I don't think anybody slept. Just to make sure that it could be so incredible. We flew two girls in from South Africa who Had never left their township, Bonatti and Pelele. And it was just incredible. We sent 278 girls to college in South Africa. From the dinner.

[Radio Co-host (Female)]

That is incredible.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

Five years ago, she's selling copiers, and now there are pictures on her website with Nelson Mandela.

[Sarah Blakely]

Yeah, I mean, it's amazing. That was a pinch me moment. Okay, I have them seldom, but, you know, all of a sudden, because I'm working so hard, and every now and then I go, oh, my gosh, this is my life. And I was with Richard Branson in Africa, and he chose two contestants. We got on a private plane from Zimbabwe to Mozambique. An armed car picked us up, took us to Nelson Mandela's home, and we hung out for the whole afternoon and had lunch with Nelson Mandela and his wife. And that was a pinch me moment. I'm sitting at his dining room table, and he's like, so, Sarah, what do you do? And I'm like, well, I invented Spanx. And he's like, where does it start? Where does it end? What does it do? And his wife, like, slapped him on the arm and goes, oh, honey, it's about the butt. Us African women, we need it. It was really a moment. Like, God, I was just in my apartment selling copiers, and I'm explaining this invention in Nelson Mandela.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

One time I had brunch with Pauly Shore.

[Sarah Blakely]

That's pretty cool.

[Radio Co-host (Male)]

Now, these girls that you flew over from South Africa, I don't know how fair that was, because I'm sure they flew over, you put them up at the Ritz or something, some real night, they go to this party, and then they went back home to their little town in South Africa, probably going, God, America is the greatest. Everything there is so beautiful. And they threw this party for us. And if they ever come back and have to, like, sit in traffic or get on Marta or something, stay In.

[Radio Co-host (Female)]

A Motel 6 or something, this crap sucks.

[Radio Co-host (Male)]

Get Sarah on the phone.

[Sarah Blakely]

Yeah, right. No, actually, they're still here. They're here for 10 days. And different people at Spanx, different employees are housing them in different, you know, taking them into their home. And they're doing an internship with me. And it's just, you know, so great. I asked the girls, I said, what is the main difference between America and where you come from? And they go, the portion sizes. And then they said, and I thought this was interesting. They go, nobody has fences around their homes. So in South Africa, for safety, everybody's got huge fences around their homes.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

Johannesburg. Yeah.

[Sarah Blakely]

So they were really surprised.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

Good morning, we can speak to Jennifer, but many are calling with Jennifer's question, so she'll represent all of them. Hey, Jennifer.

[Caller Jennifer]

Hi, Sarah.

[Sarah Blakely]

Hey, Jennifer.

[Caller Jennifer]

1 first say, I've been using your product for. For three years now. Since they showed up in Nordstrom's, I've been using them. Thank you. I'm a firm believer in them. I absolutely love them. The problem is we need a maternity hosiery.

[Sarah Blakely]

Hey, you know what? I got one.

[Caller Jennifer]

Do you really?

[Sarah Blakely]

Yes. They're called Mama Spanx. I have Mama Spanx on my website. Go to spanx.com and we have a mama version of the power panty, which is my number one seller. The little shorts, we just came out with that in the last month. We have a footless mama and a full length mama, and they give you lower belly support and lower back support as well.

[Caller Jennifer]

You are amazing.

[Sarah Blakely]

Thank you.

[Caller Jennifer]

So they're available on your website?

[Sarah Blakely]

Yeah, they are. Go to spanx.com and they're also in some maternity stores.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

We're gonna go ahead and we're gonna link over also from allthehitsq100.com because you just get one or two letters wrong in Spanx and you're in a place that Melissa Carter goes to a lot. Probably the rest of you don't want to go to too much.

[Radio Co-host (Female)]

He's just disappointed displacing it on you. Spanx with the X is a higher bookmark than the one with the K.

[Sarah Blakely]

I just want to let you know.

[Radio Co-host (Male)]

Spanx is a favorite of Bert's. He just. He never realized there was another one with, you know, pantyhose and stuff on it.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

Yeah.

[Radio Co-host (Male)]

A different trapdoor that Bert's going through.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

Congratulations on all your. I love your story. I love that you're from Atlanta. I wish we would have had you on earlier than this Saturday. I mean, after the big foundation stuff. But congratulations.

[Sarah Blakely]

Thank you. It was amazing. We raised over $600,000 that night.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

And once again, just to clarif, the money for the foundation goes directly to women.

[Sarah Blakely]

I'm helping women globally. I want to fund education and also entrepreneurial ventures for women. So I want to find women around the world and in America just like I was in that moment in my apartment and give them a leg up with funding, and I'm taking a portion of all Spanx and asset sales and doing that ongoing. But this launch was really to specifically send these girls to South Africa. That was the first place I chose.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

And one of the things I think.

[Radio Co-host (Male)]

Is at the dinner, like, the cost of the dinner was Was it a full college education or a year?

[Sarah Blakely]

It was a year. Each dinner ticket was $1,100, and I was so determined. Each guest got a photograph of the girl they sent to college for a year.

[Radio Co-host (Male)]

That's awesome.

[Sarah Blakely]

So every penny of their dinner ticket went to the girl.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

And did I hear correctly on your website, are you picking up like 100% of the administration costs?

[Sarah Blakely]

I am. I'm funding absolutely everything. So if anyone wants to donate any money to the Sara Blakely foundation, it all goes to a girl who's going to make a difference in the world. And that website, I should say, is Sarah Blakelyfoundation.com and we'll go ahead and.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

We'Ll link to it from all the hits. Q100.com Also, Sarah, really great having you here.

[Sarah Blakely]

It's fun being on here.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

Thank you.

[Radio Co-host (Female)]

Congratulations.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

It's really exciting. We're very, very excited for you and congratulations for all your success. Great story.

[Caller Jennifer]

Thanks.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

You're on the Burt show.

[Hers Medication Advertiser]

Oh, hey.

[Gift Wrapping Host]

Welcome to gift wrapping.

[Sarah Blakely]

Whoa.

[Gift Wrapping Host]

So is Saldana.

[T-Mobile Representative]

Hey, can you wrap these, please?

[Radio Host (Burt)]

Wow.

[Gift Wrapping Host]

IPhone 17s.

[T-Mobile Representative]

You splurged at T Mobile. You can get iPhone 17s on them. The new center stage front camera is amazing for group selfies. It's the perfect gift for everyone.

[Gift Wrapping Host]

I'm the worst. I only got my mom a robe.

[T-Mobile Representative]

Well, it's better than socks.

[Gift Wrapping Host]

So I have to trade in my old phone, right?

[T-Mobile Representative]

No @t mobile. There's no trade ins needed when you switch. Keep your old phone or give it as a gift.

[Gift Wrapping Host]

Incredible.

[T-Mobile Representative]

In fact, wrap up my old phone too for my aunt Rosa. Forget that. Aunt Liz will be jealous.

[Gift Wrapping Host]

Sounds like my family drama.

[T-Mobile Representative]

Oh, I got it. I'll give it to my abuela. I'll take reindeer paper with. Hey, where are you going?

[Sarah Blakely]

To T Mobile.

[Gift Wrapping Host]

The holidays are better. AT T Mobile get four iPhone 17s on us. No trade in needed when you switch plus four lines for just 25 bucks a line. And now T mobile is available in US cellular stores with 24 monthly bill credits and 4 eligible board ins on essentials for well qualified customers. Bought our pay plus taxes fees and $35 device connection charge credits and imbalance due if you pay up earlier. Cancel Contact Us Finance Agreement 256 gigabytes 830 required.

[Knox from the Popcast]

Visit T mobile.com hi, this is Knox from the popcast with Knox and Jamie and maybe like us at the podcast. You also know people who have been smokers or vapers and Zen is the one product it seems like everyone is talking about because there good reasons to make a change to Zen Nicotine Pouches. Reasons like Zen Nicotine Pouches are still America's number one choice for smoke free hands free nicotine satisfaction and you can choose between 10 varieties, each variety available in either 3 or 6 milligrams. Check out zen.com find to find Zyn at a store near you Warning this product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

ACAST powers the world's best podcasts.

[Sarah Blakely]

Here's a show that we recommend.

[T-Mobile Representative]

What if you laughed all through your commute? Or if you heard the funniest story while at the gym?

[Sarah Blakely]

Well, now you can.

[T-Mobile Representative]

I'm Jameela Jamil and guests on my new podcast Wrong Turns share their most mortifying and hilarious disaster stories. I'm talking people like Mae Martin, Bob the Drag Queen, Katherine Ryan, Jake Johnson, Margaret Cho, Simon Pegg, Penn Badgley, and so many more. So listen wherever you get your podcast. Wrong Terms Where Dignity Goes to Die.

[Radio Host (Burt)]

ACAST helps creators launch, grow and monetize their podcasts everywhere. Acast.com.