Why “following your intuition” is more than a catchphrase
Following your intuition is more than a feel-good phrase for Samantha Giordano—it’s the spark that reignited her life and the heartbeat of her sneaker brand, Intuition Kicks. If you talk to Samantha for even five minutes, her passion for listening to your gut and living in your “intuition era” jumps right out at you. That’s not just marketing—it’s personal.
Samantha’s Story: When Your Gut Leads the Way
Samantha’s journey started in a place many women know all too well—ignoring that voice inside that tells you something isn’t right in a relationship. She spent years “just staying comfortable and figuring things out,” even as the red flags kept piling up. As she put it, “Something was in my gut telling me something was wrong. But I was like, ‘No, I’m just going to stay comfortable and figure things out.’”
It took some hard lessons for things to shift, from gaining over 100 pounds while convincing herself to stay put, to watching her engagement ring literally fall apart (a sign, anyone?). Eventually, she says, “That’s when I followed my intuition. I ended up losing a hundred pounds and my whole entire life just completely changed for the better.”
Her story is about more than sneakers—it’s about finding the courage to step into the unknown and trust yourself to land on your feet.
Why Sneakers? Why Now?
After a complete life reset, Samantha knew she wanted to help other women connect with their own inner voice. She thought deeply about how she could do that in a way that felt true to her. The answer? Sneakers.
“I love sneakers. Personally, I wear them with everything… I think they’re really fun to wear if you dress them up, which a lot of people are starting to do,” she says. “And no other brand that I’ve seen has a sneaker company with the motivational insoles and the spiritual message that I’m sharing.”
Each pair of Intuition Kicks isn’t just a fashion statement—it’s designed to be a physical daily reminder to trust your gut. Samantha made sure every insole includes an affirmation—her favorite is: “Be comfortable being uncomfortable.” She says, “That’s one of my things that I’ve been living through ever since I left my marriage. I think the most beautiful things come out of when you’re uncomfortable. That’s something I really pride myself on.”
It doesn’t stop at the shoes. Each pair comes with a custom tarot card (yep, black and gold, and totally gorgeous) and a mini manifestation ritual right on the back. Every day starts with a moment of intention, not just a foot in a shoe.
Achievements and Real-World Challenges
Nothing about building Intuition Kicks has been easy—Samantha is up front about that. Getting from vision board to actual sneaker? It’s detailed, messy, and packed with nitty-gritty decisions. “I feel like a lot of the production is a lot more than I thought it was going to be… how thick is the insole for the comfort? How thick is the leather for just everything? Little, like, nitty-gritty things that were challenging.”
But she didn’t do it alone. Samantha found mentorship with a private label expert out of NYC, which, she says, “made it a little less stressful.” And community support is everything: “I have a lot of people in my corner. I work with a Reiki spiritual coach who has been with me for like eight plus years, so she’s been really helping me just with that. And I do a lot of breathwork… when I come back to myself is when a lot of my things come to me.”
Empowering Women, One Step at a Time
For Samantha, Intuition Kicks is about changing the narrative for women—helping them be bold and make decisions based on their truth, not pressure or comfort zones. She says, “I want to share that story with other women, and that they listen to their guide and know that there is a better side or a better life out there than just being comfortable or just settling.”
Her sneakers are for “walking into what you want to be and who you want to be”—and she’s seen firsthand the difference that little daily reminders can make.
Beyond Sneakers: What’s Next?
Yes, the product matters. But Samantha’s dreams extend beyond just footwear. She’s planning for a future where Intuition Kicks becomes a hub for real-life connection and empowerment. “One of my big things that I want to do eventually is do in major cities, do different pop-ups where it would be like a bodega… and once you find it, you go in and it’s going to be not just a shopping experience. But I’m going to have speakers come in and share their intuition stories, have other collaborators there. Just make it like a whole different experience.”
There are plans brewing to collaborate with women’s mental health organizations, and goals to let customers write their own personal messages for the insoles, so the power and the meaning are always unique to you.
Lightning Round: The Woman Behind the Brand
Before we wrapped, we did a “from the hip” lightning round—here are Samantha’s answers:
- Favorite meal of the day?
“I like dinner. I love a good chicken cutlet—that’s my favorite thing.” - Favorite ice cream flavor?
Peppermint stick. - Favorite affirmation?
“Follow your intuition.” (Plus, “You’re strong and beautiful. And don’t care what everyone else thinks.”) - Advice to 15-year-old self:
“You’re strong and beautiful. And not to care what everyone else thinks.” - Dream travel destination:
Italy. - Dream mentor/coach:
“Sara Blakely. She just launched a shoe! Her posts make me feel better when I’m down in entrepreneurship.” - Favorite luxury brand?
Gucci. - How do you relax?
Read. “Nothing’s better than a good book and a blanket.”
Ready to walk into your own intuition era?
Samantha Giordano’s journey with Intuition Kicks is a reminder that honoring your gut feeling can change everything. She’s not just making sneakers—she’s encouraging women to trust themselves, push past comfort, and create space for possibility.
So, next time you lace up, remember: “Be comfortable being uncomfortable.” That’s where the magic happens. And that’s the story Samantha wants every woman to know.
Follow Samantha’s journey or grab your pair at Intuition Kicks—and step boldly, wherever your intuition leads you.
The Takeaway: Following your intuition starts here.
Feeling the pull towards something bigger? Taking the leap into entrepreneurship is bold, messy, and wildly rewarding. Let this story be your permission slip to trust your gut and chase the freedom you crave. Ready to design a life business on your own terms? The Gal Project is here to walk beside you—with real stories, real tools, and real women doing the work. Subscribe today.