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 label, why membership models create loyal communities, and what brands can learn from Costco’s approach to storytelling, transparency, and customer care. This episode shows how everyday products can spark real fandom and offers lessons for founders who want to build the same type of energy. This is the blueprint that West Egg Ventures brings to life when we work with clients.

Amar also reveals his sleeper Costco picks. Kaylee shares her nostalgic favorites. And Amar ends by heading straight to Costco after recording.

00:00 Why Costco content captures fans instantly
00:36 Amar’s Costco origin story and Kaylee’s Groupon hack
02:00 Nostalgia, family rituals, and free samples
03:45 Feeding a family for nine dollars and why value matters
04:50 The rotisserie chicken and the power of ecosystem products
05:45 Kirkland Signature as a status and fashion brand
07:30 Insider behavior and the unwritten rules of the club
09:45 Creators who fuel the Costco fandom economy
12:20 Treasure hunt psychology and the fear of missing out
14:55 Membership pricing and why trust softens backlash
17:40 Employment culture, transparency, and community leadership
19:50 Global fandom from Iceland to Orlando aunties
22:10 Lessons for founders on building communities like Costco
24:25 Amar and Kaylee share their top Costco sleeper picks
26:50 Amar signs off and goes to Costco

Official Show Description

Speak Easy with Amar Shah and Kaylee Chicoski is where storytelling meets strategy and fandom becomes community.

Hosted by Emmy-winning storyteller Amar Shah and Shorty Award-winning strategist Kaylee Chicoski, the show explores how fan engagement drives culture, connection, and business growth.

From Taylor Swift to the Super Bowl, each episode, produced by West Egg Ventures, dives into how brands, creators, and fans build lasting loyalty through emotion, authenticity, and shared story.

Our Mission
We help sports, lifestyle, and culture-driven brands grow through fan-first strategy, creator-led content, and cultural activations that turn engagement into loyalty.

Learn more at WestEggVentures.com

📩 info@westeggventures.com

🎥 YouTube: youtube.com/@WestEggVentures

💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/west-egg-ventures

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 trend, how the tropes connect with readers, and what this says about women as an underserved fan base in sports. We also look at the larger ripple effects. Do these fictional romances turn casual readers into actual sports fans? How are teams and leagues responding? And why does this genre feel like the Hallmark movie equivalent of publishing in the best possible way?

From F1 pit lane love stories to WWE universe romances, from dedicated bookstore events to real data showing massive sales growth, this episode unpacks the storytelling, the fandom, and the fun behind sports romance. Amar even wonders if he should write one himself.

If you are curious about sports, books, fandom, or why this trend has taken off the way it has, this episode is for you.

Episode Time Codes and Topics

0:00 to 1:00
Introduction and the surprising rise of hockey romance
How this niche became a breakout category on BookTok

1:00 to 3:00
Origins of sports romance
Early titles, the hockey foundation, and expansion into F1 and other sports

3:00 to 4:30
Why readers connect
Workplace dynamics, forbidden crushes, athlete mystery, and slow burns

4:30 to 6:00
How social platforms fuel the movement
BookTok views, bookstore romance events, and niche fan communities

6:00 to 7:30
From fiction to fandom
Does reading sports romance lead people to watch actual games

7:30 to 9:00
Sports romance in pop culture
Rom com roots, WWE storylines, and crossover storytelling moments

9:00 to end
Comfort reading, best pun titles, and whether Amar should write one
Closing thoughts and listener recommendations

Official Show Description

Speak Easy with Amar Shah and Kaylee Chicoski is where storytelling meets strategy and fandom becomes community.

Hosted by Emmy-winning storyteller Amar Shah and Shorty Award-winning strategist Kaylee Chicoski, the show explores how fan engagement drives culture, connection, and business growth.

From Taylor Swift to the Super Bowl, each episode, produced by West Egg Ventures, dives into how brands, creators, and fans build lasting loyalty through emotion, authenticity, and shared story.

Our Mission
We help sports, lifestyle, and culture-driven brands grow through fan-first strategy, creator-led content, and cultural activations that turn engagement into loyalty.

Learn more at WestEggVentures.com

📩 info@westeggventures.com

🎥 YouTube: youtube.com/@WestEggVentures

💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/west-egg-ventures

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 the Margaritaville universe, while Kaylee reflects on growing up in the Keys, where Buffett's music wasn’t just a soundtrack — it was the atmosphere. Together, they explore how Buffett transformed vibe into value: a community-first brand built on escape, ease, joy, and being unapologetically chill.

What we cover:

• How Margaritaville became a cultural flywheel
• Why “leisure” was Buffett’s rebellion against hustle culture
• The power of building emotion before product
• Turning fans into co-authors of a brand story
• Lessons modern creators + brands can apply today

If you’ve ever wanted to understand how fandom becomes culture — or why a cheeseburger and a beach bar can feel like home — pull up a chair, pour something tropical, and enjoy.

Episode Timecodes

00:00 – Welcome to Speakeasy

01:15 – The Florida Keys Story

03:40 – The Margaritaville Air Freshener Moment

04:30 – From Song to State of Mind

06:15 – A Brand Built Before Social Media

07:30 – Storytelling the Lifestyle

09:25 – Nostalgia as Strategy

10:45 – The Business Empire People Forget

12:05 – Jimmy Buffett: Musician, Novelist, Entrepreneur

14:10 – How New Fans Discover Margaritaville Today

15:20 – Building a World, Not Just a Brand

17:05 – Community That Outlives the Creator

18:30 – Joy as a Serious Brand Strategy

19:40 – Favorite Songs & Final Reflections

Articles: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/05/business/jimmy-buffett-margaritaville-business.html

Official Show Description

Speak Easy with Amar Shah and Kaylee Chicoski is where storytelling meets strategy and fandom becomes community.

Hosted by Emmy-winning storyteller Amar Shah and Shorty Award-winning strategist Kaylee Chicoski, the show explores how fan engagement drives culture, connection, and business growth.

From Taylor Swift to the Super Bowl, each episode, produced by West Egg Ventures, dives into how brands, creators, and fans build lasting loyalty through emotion, authenticity, and shared story.

Our Mission
We help sports, lifestyle, and culture-driven brands grow through fan-first strategy, creator-led content, and cultural activations that turn engagement into loyalty.

Learn more at WestEggVentures.com

📩 info@westeggventures.com

🎥 YouTube: youtube.com/@WestEggVentures

💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/west-egg-ventures