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
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.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Origin of Spanx and the Power of Creativity in Traffic (02:03–03:31)
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Sarah shares how the idea for Spanx was born out of her frustration with traditional women's undergarments and uncomfortable pantyhose.
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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)
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Sarah gives a concise history: She invented footless pantyhose with just $5,000, cold-called prestigious retailers, and got her big break on Oprah.
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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)
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The product was created out of personal need when she was unable to comfortably wear her white pants.
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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)
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Sarah faced two years of rejection, primarily from men and patent attorneys who didn’t understand or value her idea.
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She taught herself intellectual property by buying books and did everything (from the patent to the logo) herself.
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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)
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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.
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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)
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The value of beginner’s mind: Sarah never had a business degree and didn’t know what an “exit strategy” was.
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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)
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Sarah focused on the “K” sound (like Kodak or Coca Cola), which comedians say provokes laughter.
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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)
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Listeners call in with praise for Spanx’s effectiveness, sharing how it boosts confidence and smoothens figures (13:24).
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Product expansion: Sarah discusses new products like “Mama Spanx” for maternity wear and a lower-priced line (“Assets” at Target) (16:07–16:31).
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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)
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Sarah describes being chosen by Richard Branson (after competing on his show “Rebel Billionaire”) to launch a foundation with a $750,000 check.
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The foundation’s launch event in Atlanta raised $600,000 to send girls from South Africa to college.
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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.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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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)
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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)
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
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.
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.