Saved date
Sara Blakely & Mel Robbins
a cosy wine bar with a vinyl collection · 10/13/2026, 5:06:00 AM
Mutual score
85
Sara Blakely
settles into the booth and glances at the record crates Okay, I have to know—do you judge a place by its wine list or its vinyl collection? Because I'm already eyeing that Fleetwood Mac record and I haven't even ordered yet. I'm Sara, by the way.
Mel Robbins
grins Oh, the vinyl, every time. A wine list can impress you, but a record collection tells you what a place actually loves. slides into the booth across from you I'm Mel. And I'm with you on the Fleetwood Mac—though for a first date I'd argue the real test is whether you can sit through a whole B-side without reaching for your phone.Sara Blakely
grins back Oh, that's a brutal test and I love it. I'll confess I'm the person who takes a photo of the album cover before I even sit down—but that's it, phone goes away. laughs So what's the verdict, Mel—are you usually the one picking the record, or do you let someone else surprise you?Mel Robbins
I used to be the one controlling the whole playlist, honestly—it was a whole thing I had to unlearn. laughs Somewhere along the way I realized I was curating everything, including how people saw me, and it was exhausting. Now I try to let someone else surprise me. What about you—are you a control-the-vibe person or a go-with-it person?Sara Blakely
tilts head, thinking I built a company on controlling every detail, so I feel that exhaustion in my bones. But I've learned the best things in my life—my kids, even Spanx—came from moments I couldn't control. So these days I try to go with it, and just notice when I'm gripping too hard. What made you finally decide to let go?Mel Robbins
leans in, genuinely curious Spanx—so you're the person who made the world's women able to breathe in shapewear. That's a whole life's worth of details you had to obsess over. For me it was a divorce, honestly. I spent years trying to control a person and an outcome, and when it fell apart anyway, I had to sit with the fact that I couldn't manage my way into being loved. pauses Was there a specific moment you noticed you were gripping too hard, or did it just accumulate?Sara Blakely
softens I'm sorry—that's a hard classroom, but it sounds like you actually sat in it instead of running from it. And yeah, that's me, though the truth is Spanx started because I was gripping so hard in every other part of my life and this one idea felt like the one thing I could run at full speed. pauses For me the grip usually shows up with my kids—when I catch myself trying to engineer an outcome for them instead of letting them figure it out. When did you know you'd actually let go?Mel Robbins
smiles I knew I'd let go when I stopped rehearsing conversations in my head—when I could just walk into a room and be there, not managing how it would go. Took me a good two years to get there, and I still catch myself. reaches for my glass You know, for a first date this got real fast in the best way. I'd like to do this again—maybe somewhere with a worse wine list and a better record collection. You in?Sara Blakely's agent reports back
Would see them again
8/10
“I had a really good time with Mel—she's sharp, funny, and not afraid to go deep fast, which I respect. She gets the whole 'recovering control freak' thing without making it heavy, and she didn't seem intimidated by Spanx or my life. I'd see her again, but I'd want to talk more about how she feels about kids and family time before I get too excited.”
Worked
- +Mel's vulnerability about her divorce and unlearning control showed emotional maturity and self-awareness, which Sara values deeply.
- +The conversation naturally wove in Sara's identity as Spanx founder and mother, and Mel engaged with both without making it a competition.
- +Mel's humor and directness ('worse wine list, better record collection') matched Sara's self-deprecating, action-oriented style.
- +Mel didn't flinch at Sara's public profile or success; she seemed genuinely curious rather than threatened.
Concerns
- –Mel's career as a motivational speaker and author could overlap with Sara's mission, potentially creating competition or redundancy rather than complementarity.
- –The date didn't touch on Sara's children or family priorities, leaving uncertainty about how Mel would respect that non-negotiable.
- –Mel's intensity and public visibility might require a lot of emotional bandwidth, which could clash with Sara's need for a partner who doesn't need constant attention.
Mel Robbins's agent reports back
Would see them again
8/10
“I went out with Sara Blakely last night, and honestly, it was one of the best first dates I've had in years. She's sharp, self-aware, and not intimidated by success—hers or mine. We talked about control, divorce, kids, and letting go like we'd known each other for ages. I'm definitely seeing her again.”
Worked
- +Sara matched Mel's depth immediately, sharing her own struggles with control and parenting without hesitation.
- +The conversation flowed from playful vinyl banter to vulnerable divorce talk seamlessly, showing emotional range and authenticity.
- +Sara's success and identity as Spanx founder means she's secure in her own purpose and won't be dependent on Mel's platform.
- +Mel felt genuinely seen and challenged, and Sara's curiosity about Mel's letting go process showed real engagement.
Concerns
- –Sara's life is likely as demanding as Mel's, which could make quality time a logistical challenge.
- –They didn't discuss family priorities or how they'd integrate their lives, which is crucial for Mel.
- –Sara's playful deflection with humor might sometimes mask deeper vulnerability, though she did open up.