Story + Rain Talks

A Note From The Host: This is one of my favorite conversations with a behind-the-scenes fashion insider. I love this discussion for its niche and unique perspective. Megan Ryley is Senior Vice President of Product Development + Production at Aimé Leon Dore, the luxury streetwear brand that everyone is talking about, but that Megan tells me---has a much wider audience than what that category actually evokes, in words. The longtime textiles expert and fashion production veteran tells us what it's like to work in the industry of fashion, which she describes as ‘chaos'; every single day there's going to be something unexpected that happens. From owning her own factory and working across cultures, to what women are REALLY up against as bosses in the workplace and how fabric sourcing plays an incredibly important role in the expression of a garment---Megan shares her experience and fashion's fascinating backstory. Episode 170 of Story + Rain Talks also delivers some great advice: cutting out the ‘fluff' and being very direct with her expectations is what has made Megan truly successful in her work… and if you are planning to start a brand? The most important thing that you can do, is be very connected to your customer base. Hear Megan's perspective on how we're entering into a unique part of history when it comes to fashion, where people are so uniquely attuned to their own sense of style and how, in turn, creatives and designers are given so much more space to do their thing. It was lovely to listen to the juxtaposition in how she lives and does life, juggling her high power and high pressure job, and of course---hear all about how cult brand Aimé Leon Dore approaches storytelling and delivers a lifestyle. Discover more + Shop The Podcast:www.meganryley.comaimeleondore.comDiscover the episode and more on storyandrain.comfollow @storyandraintalks and @storyandrain on Instagramfollow @storyandraintalks and @storyandrain on Threadsall about the host 

A Note From The Host: April Gargiulo has done something revolutionary and extraordinary in skincare. Listen ahead to hear all about the ingredients in, and unparalleled and intricate processes of--- Vintner's Daughter---the, what's now a 3-product, 3 step routine for skin ‘nutrition'---with the recent launch of their cleanser. April's beautiful brand has long been a favorite of mine ( I find myself running out of serum, and rushing to replenish it) for many reasons, so it was a treat to talk to April about it all. The intangible, intoxicating scent of her serum; the way that repeated use TRULY transforms skin…are just some of what I, and many, love about Vintner's Daughter. On the podcast you'll learn about what it means to really take care of your skin. When most skincare companies are concerned with revenue, April's strictly focused on what's best for skin. And to hear April talk about how gratitude is built into her brand and built into her life's outlook? It's so incredibly uplifting, and deeply inspiring. We talk about life in Napa, her definition of luxury, and how, coming from a family of winemakers, she was taught at a very early age that cutting corners and taking shortcuts would mean not being able to make the best product. April talks the beginnings of and the trajectory of the brand, explains it's ‘G to G' recipe for growth, and shares the rituals and favorites in her day-today routine. Discover more + Shop The Podcast:vintnersdaughter.comVintner's Daughter Active Renewal CleanserVintner's Daughter Active Treatment EssenceVintner's Daughter Active Botanical SerumMaria McManus Oversized Shirt in WhiteDries Van Noten Amethyst Shadow Graphic Ochre LipstickDiscover the episode and more on storyandrain.comfollow @storyandraintalks and @storyandrain on Instagramfollow @storyandraintalks and @storyandrain on Threadsall about the host

A Note From The Host: Our next guest is a one-of-a-kind creative who just so happens to be someone who crafts the world's most elevated and unique cocktails. Alba Huerta is a Houston-based bartender + owner of Julep – who won a James Beard award for her work. She's a cocktail educator, author, and longtime business owner – inheriting that drive from her parents, and who ploughed head-on into her purpose. What is so interesting about Alba's story, is that while she's made a serious mark in technique and flavor, it's people and the hallowed aspects of hospitality that have driven her since the age of 18 to be the celebrated creator and entrepreneur she is today. Here, Alba humbly shares her unique story of cocktails that tell a story, with a lot of advice for business owners and fans of food and drink along the way.Discover more + Shop The Podcast:JulepJulep: Southern Cocktails Refashioned by Alba Huerta + Marah Stets Discover the episode and more on storyandrain.comfollow @storyandraintalks and @storyandrain on Instagram follow @storyandraintalks and @storyandrain on Threadsall about the host

A Note From The Host: Years ago when I found her first book in our Oprah Magazine offices books section, I discovered that Aimee Raupp is an NYC-based acupuncturist and women's health specialist. I began seeing her instantly, and have continued to do so to this day. It was back then that I learned about the details of really clean eating. I learned about bone broth before it became a health and wellness buzz phrase. These days, Aimee's practice has evolved to include a focus on guiding women through fertility and pregnancy. In this episode, we're talking nutrition: for fertility and egg quality, for baby, and for general optimal health.The Egg Quality Diet – what is it? How is this diet good for other aspects of health? What else can it help? Eating for egg quality. Eating for general fertility. How to feed baby once they've transitioned to food. What to focus on feeding baby for brain health and general optimal health. What does Aimee as a health professional, choose to eat, and what does she always avoid? The 3 Avoids. How Aimee chooses food when she lacks the ability to make the meal: the way to cleaner foods and what to order when eating out.Discover more + Shop The Podcast:aimeeraupp.comChill Out And Get Healthy: Live Clean To Be Strong And Stay Sexy by Aimee Raupp Yes, You Can Get Pregnant by Aimee RauppBody Belief: How to Heal Autoimmune Diseases, Radically Shift Your Health, and Learn to Love Your Body More by Aimee RauppThe Egg Quality Diet by Aimee RauppSuper Nutrition For Babies by Katherine Erlich, MDBrodo bone brothsDiscover the episode and more on storyandrain.comfollow @storyandraintalks and @storyandrain on Instagram follow @storyandraintalks and @storyandrain on Threadsall about the host

The Stories – “The first dress that I ever draped was the dress that got on the cover of Women's Wear Daily, for my first collection. That was life changing. It was a dress that Zoe Saldaña wore. It was also the version of a dress that I made for Oprah for her magazine cover. The dress that Michelle Obama wore to a White House Correspondents' Dinner changed my trajectory.”The Backstory – "It was at Bill Blass that I did my Phd; my Masters." “I grew up in a household where we could talk about fashion, love, music, dance – everything – at the dinner table. Nothing was off limits. And when I came to America, especially in the fashion world, when I would ask questions, people would say, ‘No, I don't want to talk about that.' I was shocked.” “You have to figure out what is happening around you, and survive it. In order for me to survive and really live my dreams, I had to be my own cheerleader. I allowed myself to feel things, but then also to move on.”Wisdom Rains –  “'Too much' and 'too little' are words that have been hurled at me ever since I was little and I've learned to brush it off.” “I've learned that you can't please everyone, all of the time.” “If you're living your life as part of a marginalized group, you're in constant fight-or-flight mode and you don't even realize it. Then that gets amplified with what's happening politically, culturally.” “In watching my mother I realized that elegance isn't a posture; it's a practice.” “Early on, I learned that I was never going to get any validation, I was seen as a ‘cautionary tale'; and what that did was, it freed me from ever needing any.” “I think it's very important for all of us to live in the world exploring what we want to do in life, and having that encompass joy, purpose, and impact.”On Inspo – “My mother is my blueprint for strength.”On Writing His Memoir – “Editing down was really challenging. I made sure that it was done with grace. This is not a salacious, take-down book. That's not my being. I wanted to tell a story. While writing, it was really challenging to relive things. But it was also cathartic.”On The Fashion Industry – "What I love about the fashion industry, which often doesn't get shared, is the camaraderie that we have. There's a genuine sense of support and understanding amongst all the creatives and entrepreneurs. It's not easy. It might look fabulous and wonderful, but the hard work is real hard work. I always say five percent of it is glamour, the rest is sheer hard work.”On Anna Wintour – “I know she can be polarizing, but the industry is better because of her.”On Cynthia Rowley – “She had an independent brand and she worked really hard. What I really loved about her, and I'm inspired by her constantly, is that even in the hardest times she was always joyful. She was always optimistic.”What Else – “Towards that time, we started the foundation and that's where I would say everything shifted for me. We started with twelve girls, and we've gone to more than three hundred children. These are streetworker's children; inmates' children; these are children who have no access to education and a livelihood”Obsixed – A collection of Prabal's current lifestyle obsessions.Discover more + Shop The Podcast:parabalgurung.comWalk Like A Girl by Prabal GurungPrabal Gurung Polka Dot Brocade Flounce MinidressProem Eau de Parfum by U BeautyTracie Martyn SpaPrabal Gurung: Style and Beauty with a BitePride and Prejudice by Jane AustenDiscover the episode and more on storyandrain.comfollow @storyandraintalks and @storyandrain on Instagram follow @storyandraintalks and @storyandrain on Threadsall about the host

The Stories – “I was out of a job for the first time in my life. During the pandemic I went from someone who was upbeat, to someone who was clinically depressed. Ricardo said to me, ‘Why don't we do something together, to get out of this state of sickness.” “There is a huge opportunity out there for high quality footwear that has some fashion element to it, but it's not necessarily runway pieces. Shoes need to address everyday women's lives.” “Because we make everything in house, we're able to play with some crazy fabrics. At the end of the day, you have a fashion director giving direction on the product. Think about it: who is running Stuart Weitzman?The Backstory – Went after her style.com job by approaching legendary editor Candy Pratts Price, who lived in her building, with a note and flowers. Wore her lucky Altuzzara dress twice on interviews with Barneys New York. “Our plaids and velvets… all come from the suppliers for Alaia, Gianvito Rossi, everyone else. We go to the best; we want the best – and we give that to our customer.”Wisdom Rains – "I have the grit to continue on, every day, and I believe that it has been instrumental in my career.” “The business needs to evolve; the technology is evolving. You have to keep moving. I've used that a lot in my career. When I thought I was so comfortable, I then thought… now it's time to move. It's key: you need to learn, and you need to move very fast.”On Inspo – “Those pages, for me, were a dream and the biggest inspiration. The time that I have the most nostalgia about were the years with Claudia, with Cindy, in Chanel pastels. They were happy, they were gorgeous, they were there to inspire you.”On Authenticity – “It came organically… how we wanted to market the product, how we wanted to pass joy. And we never wanted to be a cookie-cutter brand.”What Else – “We're adding other creative directors into the fold. We'll take care of your business. So if you want to launch a shoe collection, give me a call."Obsixed – A collection of Marina's current obsessions.Discover more + Shop The Podcast:larroudé.comLarroudé Miso Platform Clog in Dijon Plaid ShearlingLarroudé Verona Macrame Ballet FlatsLarroudé Salma SandalLarroudé + Markarian MuleLarroudé + Altuzarra PumpLarroudé + Jonathan Cohen Flat Lo SneakerDiscover the episode and more on storyandrain.comfollow @storyandraintalks and @storyandrain on Instagram follow @storyandraintalks and @storyandrain on Threads all about the host

The Stories – “The model to succeed is tough unless you are backed by a conglomerate, or LVMH.” “The place that was smaller, at that point, was Michael Kors. I interned there for two years. It was a dream. Michael Kors showed me how to be a boss – he was nice, kind, funny, and personable.” “My mother would require us to make dinner one night a week so we could learn some basic cooking.” “I wanted every recipe to have a photo. When I look at a cookbook and there's no photo representing a recipe, not only do I not know what that recipe's supposed to look like, I also feel like, this author must not think this is an important recipe.”The Backstory – “I sat at family dinner one night, when I was in the fifth grade, and made the announcement that I wanted to be a fashion designer.” “In 2006 I was working with two different design teams. It was crazy busy; I was fully in the mix. It was full minestrone!” “Cooking was something I'd been doing the whole time. When I was a fashion designer, I was always coming home and cooking, having dinner parties… it was something that kept my feet on the ground in what can be a crazy industry at times.”Wisdom Rains – “All the focus that began for me in the fifth grade, had turned into blinders. Then I allowed myself to have another dream.” “There's a point when you're on the diving board and you need to take that leap of faith, and know that hard work and some level of talent will yield a soft landing. Once you start doing something, your heart catches up with your mind.” “It's almost like the protein is the Little Black Dress. Now how do you accessorize it?"On Inspo – “Growing up in the Bay Area in San Francisco, in the 70's and 80's, it was a really amazing time for creativity and for self-expression, and I felt like I was in the right place at the right time.”On Tommy Hilfiger---“Tommy, as a person himself, was an amazing mentor, in terms of him really seeing that I had the potential.”On recipes and putting together his cookbook, Family Style – “I would wake up at 7, 8 in the morning and get to recipe testing. My refrigerator was a Jenga set from hell.” “Five Spice Chicken is one of those Tuesday meals that you can just throw into the oven.” “Knowing it was inspired by my heritage and Cantonese roots, I felt it would be amazing to find an Asian photographer; there's a common language and experience.”What Else – “I have a couple of things coming down the turnpike that are in the fashion world."Obsixed – a collection of Peter Som's current obsessions.Discover more + Shop The Podcast:petersom.comFamily Style: Elegant Everyday Recipes Inspired by Home and Heritage by Peter Som When The Going Was Good by Graydon Carter Todd Snyder Italian Wood Block Paisley Neckerchief Lipault luggageStan Smiths | navyRombauer ChardonnayLa Double J table linensAtelier Saucier table linensMatouk table linensDiscover the episode and more on storyandrain.comfollow @storyandraintalks and @storyandrain on Instagram follow @storyandraintalks and @storyandrain on Threadsall about the host

The Stories — "I dyed the bottom of it Manic Panic raspberry-red. I had a belly button pierce. I wore a lot of midriffs. I was a kind of Jewish Shakira, trying to have some influence from Erykah Badu or something, but I was not cool in that way at all.” “I really wanted to be in that movie. I just love Sofia Coppola so much. At the time I didn't have a child. I didn't know much about mothering, and because the writing was so good, I think I knew what to do.” “I want Ida to know that the world is a field of relations. It's cause and effect. Things don't come from nowhere. People don't come from nowhere. Everybody has a heart. It means that she has the ultimate safety in me and in Ben, my husband.”The Backstory — “When I started doing improv and excelled, it was like realizing that you could run really fast or something.” “[SNL] was a necessary opportunity for me to take. I saw a lot in myself that I didn't expect to see. Though challenging, it completely pointed me in the direction of my own natural success.”Wisdom Rains — "Every time we love a piece of art, that's our achievement. The original creation is the achievement of the artist and the people who may have helped them, or made them feel encouraged or inspired… the beauty and offerings of their world at that time.”On Inspo — "When something is ready to be expressed outside of my personal life, there tends to be no hesitation in terms of either putting it in standup or putting it on the page.”On playing the best friend in both It Ends With Us and Dying for Sex —  “Other than me playing them, I think it's totally two different pieces of work, two different writers… totally different. I'm often cast as people who are 'the funny person,' but in Dying for Sex, what was offered to me was such an incredible combination of character traits.”On Dying for Sex — “It was a real moment in understanding my own self-defined legitimacy… backed up by Liz Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock writing it. They're so incredible. I thought, Michelle wants me to be here, and she sees me. She's not like seeing hope for what I will be. She's watching my work. She's connecting with me. We're glad we're here. It felt so good. I felt really enrobed in my character.”On her latest book, Lifeform — “I'd found it really hard to write anything that felt like it could breathe and progress. I found it hard to say something interesting, and that wasn't just me having a tiny little shit fit. That's cruel to say about myself, I know, but sometimes it's just that way. Then, in the summer of 2023, my daughter was two-and-a-half, and I could suddenly just catch a wave.”What Else — “I really want to write another kid's book, not a Marcel book, but another picture book. And I'm writing a screenplay right now. I would also like to write a theater piece for myself. There's always a lot that I'm trying to do all at once, in small doses, and then something will overtake everything else.” At The Sea, an upcoming film with Amy Adams.Obsixed —  A collection of Jenny Slate's current lifestyle obsessions.Discover more + Shop the podcast:Dying For Sex on HuluIt Ends With Us on NetflixLifeform by Jenny Slate Little Weirds by Jenny SlateAbout The House by Ron Slate + Jenny SlateMarcel the Shell with Shoes On: Things About Me by Jenny Slate + Dean Fleischer Camp Marcel the Shell: The Most Surprised I've Ever Been by Jenny Slate + Dean Fleischer Camp Chani Nicholas and the Chani AppCaron Callahan Carissa ShirtCaron Callahan Lila SkirtTulsi Rose Tea Discover the episode and more on storyandrain.comfollow @storyandraintalks and @storyandrain on Instagram follow @storyandraintalks and @storyandrain on Threadsall about the host 

The Stories ---  Strecker: “I hadn't had a partner who was socially savvy until I found Taylor.” "Taylor has a quiet, calming confidence that's really important when you are working with people who are talent. It's nerve wracking to be in front of a camera.” “I spent so many years doing morning radio. I would just wake up, roll out of bed. I didn't even have time to think about what went into getting energized for a show. I didn't have time to get nervous.” “The entertainment industry is very dramatic, and for a really long time I was addicted to the drama.” Donohue: “You could tell by talking to her for two seconds that the things that come out of her mouth are insane. We became friendly and I learned that she had this amazing job at Sirius XM. I was this 26-year-old kid, and I started working for her more and more. We're total opposites of the spectrum, because I'm behind the camera.” “It's being proactive versus reactive. And she's talent, I can only push her so far as her wife and co-worker if she's exhausted after two or three shows a day and an event.” “Something I've learned about myself is that my body needs to recharge. I used to give, give, give, all the time.”The Backstory --- The Taylors met while filming a food video for a chef friend.Wisdom Rains --- Donohue: “Celebrating the small wins with your partner is huge.”Who Inspires? --- Strecker: “Ironically, because they would all say I was their inspiration for getting into podcasting or some form of audio, Stassi Schroeder, @girlwithnojob, and Hannah Berner – all of my best friends.”On Working Together Every Day --- Donohue: “It can be 24/7 so it's hard to stop. Tay is usually making dinner while I'm wrapping up. And then we love to watch a show at the end of the day. The beautiful thing is we can work from anywhere. The terrible thing is we can work from anywhere. But the thing too, is that a lot of our work is fun.”'What's It Like To Have Your Creative-Creator As A Partner, In One Word? --- Donohue: “Lucky.” Strecker: “Kismet.”What Else --- Live shows, writing a book, and building The Taylors brand.Obsixed --- A collection of Taylor Donohue and Taylor Strecker's current lifestyle obsessions.Discover more + Shop The Podcast:Taste of TaylorSony record playerOne Line A Day journalAuvon Tens UnitConverse Chuck Taylors in redU Beauty Resurfacing CompoundColeman Saluspa inflatable hot tubHulken Rolling Tote BagFree People We The Free Good Luck Barrel JeansDiscover the episode and more on storyandrain.comfollow @storyandraintalks and @storyandrain on Instagram follow @storyandraintalks and @storyandrain on Threadsall about the host

The Stories: “The class is very methodical and purposeful and scientific in the way that it's designed. The hour is not, ‘I worked out for an hour because that's going to bring me to the body shape that I want.' It's, I'm committing the hour to self with no phones and with movement in my body. My communication is deeply healing on a lot of levels.” “Fake it ‘til you make it? That didn't work for me. Faking it ‘til I make it just evokes too much imposter syndrome. I study until I'm confident. I was thrust into a position where, all of a sudden, I had a successful studio and I was hiring more people. I became focused on reading, learning, taking my own classes, and discovering how I could be better.” The Backstory: "Shackles on, shackles off." After landing in Hollywood, and a lot of soul searching, the one-time actor from Canada stepped into her purpose when she tapped into teaching and what made her feel whole. Wisdom Rains:  “I believe that carving out sixty minutes of focusing on self, body, and being, is a type of neurological healing that is also a nervous system healing.” “Ten minutes of moderate movement after you eat is more effective than thirty minutes of moderate movement at another time of day.” On Inspo: “Allow yourself ebb and flow. That's really important. The concept that we have this schedule that's going to last through every life shift and change, and when we fall off, we're bad? We have to remove that thinking because it puts us in a constant state of distress. Where is your space to achieve? Where is your space to explore? Where is your space to have a victory? Those are the things that get us out of bed.” On the Fitness Industry: “We've had our own little industrial revolution from 2014 until now. Boutique fitness hadn't had the boom it has had now.” On Drew Barrymore: “She's trained with every famous person you can imagine, and she kept being drawn back to the way that I work because of the conversation I ask clients to have with their bodies.”What Else: Marnie shares the details for how she does life: sleep and morning routines, weekend routines, skin rituals, what she eats, how she detoxes, the self care and body treatments she believes are worthwhile, and how it's all about waterwaterwater. Discover more + Shop The Podcast:M/Body by Marnie Alton Genmaicha TeaHeritage Store Organic Cold-Pressed Hexane-Free Castor OilAway Hardside Carry-OnSmart WaterOrganic Lemons from California Silicone Freezer Trays

The Stories: “Usually we'll hear from folks when they're having a big life event, like leaving the city. People will say, ‘you've been a part of my life for the past 11 years.' Or, ‘I'm moving to LA. Can you recommend something for me there? Do you have any plans of opening there?' The love is really wonderful."“Am I doing a good job? What does competition look like? Are we telling the story as good as we used to? I used to pack a lot of the boxes; I cared about the quality. How do we make sure that those quality standards are maintained?”The Backstory: “No doubt, the pandemic was this real accelerant for what we were doing. It really changed people's habits overnight. We had been trying to get press for years, then, suddenly, press was flocking to us.” “My father is a lifelong natural products and natural food entrepreneur. That was what I grew up around. I saw him building out these small-footprint, pre-Whole Foods kind of grocery stores, filled with natural products.” “The nice thing about being young and naïve is that I was like, ‘how can I make a million dollar business? The foolishness of that was what made it so fun, the possibilities so endless.”Wisdom Rains: “What this is doing, at a minimum, is getting people to think about how their health is connected to how they feel and what they eat. We've become very disconnected with it, because people are no longer growing up in the kitchens of their grandparents, learning how to cook.” “Customers drive the innovation. Listen to the people you're delivering to. What do they want? That's kept me busy for the past 11 years.”On Inspo: “I always come back to and try to remind myself about why I'm doing this. What's really exciting and fulfilling to me, especially being a young founder in an industry where a lot of competitors raised a ton of venture capital and we really have no right existing, it's been fulfilling to me to go back to the mission of, how do we take the food that I was selling myself at the farmer's market and seeing the issues of customers who would come to the farmer's market. I felt like if there was a few of them, there were many, many more out there who would want this kind of product. And my mission was how do we create this and make it something that is sustainable and profitable.”On Farmers: “Our farmers are incredible. I think people forget this, but the farmer's job is one of the hardest. There are no days off. Food is something that is highly perishable, growing all the time.”

The Stories: “Literally no one would know who I was in Australia at all! It wasn't until very recently that it changed. It's not something I focus on. I'm quite a private person and quite protective of my life. It's funny to finally feel embraced by the country that you always wanted to work in. I can't say that I haven't had some of those earlier struggles, where there was a juvenile resentment for not feeling important enough in your own country.” “I think I have a healthy relationship with wellness and balance where I want to be as healthy to myself as I can, but in terms of more tangible wellness practices, I think moving your body is always a good thing. I do pilates, yoga. I think trying to take care of your mental health is important. I'm someone who has my own struggles with anxiety and trying to manage that in a healthy way. I do a lot of journaling. Art is also really helpful for me.”The Backstory: “I had very early exposure to the arts growing up. My mom was a children's television writer and my dad was a musician. So that definitely reinforced and encouraged a lot of creative pursuits from a very early age.”Wisdom Rains: “What I've learned in my work, is that so much is out of my control, creatively. There's something to be said about learning to embrace the wave; the flow of things.”On Inspo: “I always go in with this idea that you're always trying to be as honest as you can; you're finding the essence of truth. My process and my style is to make sure I'm doing the best job and justice to the character – and that means working from a place of real honesty and truth.”On Netflix's Apple Cider Vinegar: “People are drawn to the complexity of the wellness and medical industries, and we all know someone who has been affected by cancer or a serious illness. Not only are we constantly bombarded by new information about health and wellness all the time, the chase for eternal youth and wellness is everywhere and so pervasive in our lives. Apple Cider Vinegar really touches on the complexities of conventional and nonconventional medicine.”What Else: “Creativity has been so imbued in my life, and I feel like I have a strong idea of my taste, so directing is something I'm wanting to explore more. Obviously, it's quite hard to get your foot in the door, so I'm going to try to write – in order to facilitate it.”Discover more + Shop The Podcast:Christopher Esber Gondola Mini ToteSkinCeuticals C E FreulicLeset Yoko Pocket PantFlower Box French Kiss Dutch TulipsWatch Apple Cider Vinegar on NetflixWatch Saint X on HuluWatch Fear the Walking Dead on Netflix

We're ranting live from Industry City in Brooklyn and from The Female Founder's Collective's annual Female Founder's Day. Tamara sits down with Sarah Beth from the team to answer some questions she has about career and building a brand. We grab FFC Co-Founder Rebecca Minkoff between sessions at the gathering of 500+ plus founders for this episode on out-of-the-box thinking and career paths, risk-taking, having perseverance, and sticking to your vision as a founder.Tell us a little about your early career and how you've navigated career moves over the years, to get to where you are now? What was the catalyst  for creating Story + Rain? Can you tell us how the name ‘Story + Rain' came about? With decidedly differing answers, Tamara and Rebecca answer one of our favorite questions: What is a story about your career that you've never had the opportunity to share before? Is there a moment in your career when you found yourself having to stick to your vision and it paid off in spades, in terms of authenticity and your brand? What kind of creativity goes into putting together an event like Female Founder's Day? Discover more + Shop The Podcast:The Female Founder Collective Rebecca Minkoff wears West Booties in blackTamara carries the Dior Changing BagSpanx Booty Boost Active LeggingsPetite Plume Silk Sleep MaskBeautybio Get That Glow Glowpro Facial Microneedling Discover SetSupergoop! Play Everyday Lotion SPF 30

On this episode, we go BTS and talk with filmmaker Edward Burns' go-to costume designer, Rosemary Lepre Forman to discuss tricks-of-the-trade and working on his latest film, Millers In Marriage with its star-ensemble cast. She shares details around their longterm collaboration, how she's learned to be resourceful and creative in her work, and how she leaned into the 1990s and a 'quiet luxury' look for the Millers cast of stylish, complex characters living between NYC and upstate New York. Tamara and Ro dive into the creative heartbeat of a 20-day shoot, how accessories bring a character to life, and why fashion is a powerful tool in storytelling.What's the look and feel of Millers In Marriage in four words? Where did you get crafty and resourceful in terms of pulling wardrobe for Minnie Driver, Gretchen Mol, Julianna Margulies, Patrick Wilson, Campbell Scott, Benjamin Bratt, and more? How did you learn to become resourceful, did the job teach you? How can people make the Millers look their own? What is your personal take on quiet luxury for the film? Wrapping a project + letting go of the creative process. Discover more: Rosemary Lepre FormanMillers in Marriage

The Stories: “On my first day as a CFDA member, I stood up in front of then-president Diane von Furstenberg and Steven Kolb and I asked what our industry's plans for sustainability was. I remember the Olsen twins sitting in front of me and turning around, staring at me. Everyone was staring at me. ‘Who is this girl?' Diane and Steven looked at each other and said, ‘We have none.'"The Backstory: Grew up with two creative grandmothers and aunts; one grandmother who was an award-winning quilter and who had hand-selected the rocks that her grandfather built their house with. Her mother is an ‘overachiever,' former lawyer who creates watercolor art and who spent hours with Melissa as a child making food for her Barbie refrigerator. “My dad, although he isn't crafty, is very intellectually creative.”Wisdom Rains: “I tend to look at the shifts and the circularity of my business – marked by what some people might call ‘trauma' – as opportunities to rebuild better. Even though they're really challenging to go through at the time, you really learn what's important, and what you want.”On Inspo: “The way that we make jewelry is so influenced by traditional Mexican silversmithing techniques. I don't do a lot of casting. We hand-make, hand-form, hand-hammer using a lot of the same tools that are used in Mexico. I really appreciate their craft and attention to detail.” Names her mother as ‘super-inspirational' for how she's reinvented herself to achieve many different things over the years.On Community + On Her Store: “People really enjoy getting together and talking about things, trying stuff on and having fun. I've only been in business for as long as I have, because of my community. I've built really strong relationships that have carried me through really challenging times, so I feel like nourishing those, intentionally. My wholesale partners have become a strong focus, so has creating the same type of partnership and energy within my store.”What Else: “There is a lot of technical detail within what we do that doesn't scream, ‘look at me.' It's an understated elegance that allows each person to put their personal stamp on my jewelry when they wear it.”Obsixed: A collection of Melissa's current lifestyle obsessions and brands.Discover more + Shop The Podcast:melissajoymanning.com

Veteran fashion editor, stylist, and author Sasha Charnin Morrison and Tamara sit down to get granular on fashion then and now. From magazine jobs to signature style, fashion experts and fashion week, the pair pick apart what it took (and takes) to rise to the top in fashion and in publishing – and more.When you think about your time at Vanity Fair, what story comes to mind?  Learning on the job. The exclusive editorial positions at fashion magazines. You have worked with the most talented people in the business, who stands out in your mind?  Talking Mirabella, Liz Tilberis, Paul Cavaco, Janice Min. Fashion shows and the 90's fashion scene in Paris. What is lacking in fashion content? What do you think makes for a great fashion editor or style expert now?Discover more + Shop The Podcast:Secrets Of Stylists by Sasha Charnin MorrisonSimone Rocha Ruffle Detail ParkaNorma Kamali Kenny JumpsuitThe Frye Company Campus Boot in silverChanel Sycomore Eau de ParfumLaura Geller Kajal Longwear Eyeliner in Deep BlackAbout-Face Smoke Stick in Smoking Gun

The Stories: Finding an unexpected and inspiring note from mother Barbara Ann Teer. Pivoting. Launching NBT Beyond Walls. Building a building and the creative process involved. Escaped a close call leaving Tom Ford pieces two countries behind while on tour styling Lenny Kravitz. “Our work is for all audiences, but it's also to create a platform of possibility and to course-correct the stories that have rendered us two-dimensional.” Working with Ivy Park and Beyoncé to sample her mother's words onAlien Superstar.The Backstory: Worked the door at NYC's legendary clubs, was discovered on a red carpet at the MTV VMAs and worked as a producer for TRL, co-founded a swimwear line, began helming National Black Theatre after her mother's sudden passing.Words Of Wisdom: “I'm building the plane while I'm flying it.” "If I don't see you wholly, and you don't see me wholly, then we can never connect or belong." "Life is short. Live it to the fullest." "No matter how fast and hard you run away from your purpose, it always comes back around."On Inspo: “My forever 'yes' is to show up and be a good daughter.” Dancer Judith Jamison's relationship with her mother's best friend, Alvin Ailey, has inspired her through ‘Impostor Syndrome.' "The seven generations of women who carry me every day."On National Black Theatre: “I'm ambitious in my vision for what NBT must be: the premiere destination for black theater in the country.” The majority of black theater is being produced in white spaces with artistic directors and producers for white audiences. Feels the honor and the pressure of preserving black culture and history.On NYC: "There was a heartbeat to New York. No matter where you came from, we belonged to each other."What Else: “I'm not in the business of theater, I'm in the business of freedom.”Obsixed: A collection of Sade's lifestyle obsessions.Discover more + Shop The Podcast:National Black Theatre J. Crew slipdressesJ. Crew cashmere J. Crew loafersPattern Beauty haircareHoney Pot personal care itemsThe work of artist Amy Sherald

The Stories: They are the new generation of whiskey makers, making their brand pop on shelves to appeal to a consumer who cares about what they're eating and drinking. “You never shut off:” there's always something to do when you live where you work. Bourbon in coffee on Christmas morning is a tradition. Frey tests new product all the time. The Backstory: Colby Frey comes from generations and generations – 170 years – of farmers. Colby and Ashley met in college in Nevada. Colby woke up one day and thought, why aren't we making whiskey with all that we grow on the farm? Once Ashley was introduced to farm life, she never wanted to go back to city life. Words Of Wisdom: “Be good to the land, and the land will be good to you.” “Whenever you do something, you always have to give something back.” Farming requires optimism. “When I die I can't take it with me; I have to take really good care of the land in order to pass it on.” On Inspo: “We consider ourselves temporary caretakers, custodians, and stewards of the land.” Frey Ranch's branding, packaging, and visuals are packed with meaning.What Else: Colby Frey wants to be at the industry forefront for where the grains for spirits come from. Frey Ranch tours are complimentary. Frey Ranch hosts food + drink events, and creates exclusive cocktail recipes. Discover more: freyranch.com

The Stories: “Seeing people cope  through my songs and be able to let themselves feel with them, has been so beautiful and has also made me feel less alone.” “I'm so deeply empathetic. I feel everything around me, tenfold.” “The hard part of touring is when you get off the tour, because you've gone from one hundred miles an hour to zero.” “As an artist, you have to constantly evolve, you have to be ever-changing. You're almost a new character every year. It's weird, but also cool to figure out. “ The Backstory: Her first video posted to TikTok was created at age 11 using her grandparents old old keyboard. Wisdom Rains:  “The more you share, the more can be used against you.” “Something that has surprised me is how expansive my mind can be and how expansive creativity is.” On Inspo: “I have to feel some type of way for idea to come out of me. It's a way of getting things out of my brain, because if I don't, I suffer.” Singer-Songwriter Soundoff: Jelly Roll, Maren Morris, Teddy Swims, Diplo. On Coachella: “I'm coming into a new character and a new part of myself. Musically, I'll be leaning into my rap side of things.” Disover more + Shop The Podcast: jessiemurph.com Jessie Murph Ain't No Man Thats The Devil on vinyl Sundae Whipped Shower Foam Body Wash in Very Vanilla Loving Tan 2 Hr Express Self Tanning Mousse La Mer Crème de la Mer Moisturizing Cream Stanley Stainless Steel Valentine's Day Tumbler Victrola Empire Bluetooth Record Player

The Stories: Famously took the ‘Farrah' out of Farrah Fawcett by giving her a bob. Took Madonna's hair from club kid to everyone wanting to look like her. Responsible for Karlie Kloss' short hair transformation. Glory days at Studio 54. Making news in the 1990's with celebrity clients. The Backstory: Started doing hair at age 13, and declaring it at school. His time at Bergdorf Goodman left a lasting impression, where Suga was his mentor. Wisdom Rains: Don't get too chummy or personal with clients. You are there to serve them and make them feel taken care of. Hot Heads: Farah Fawcett, Madonna, Karlie Kloss, Victoria Beckham, Lady Gaga On Inspo: “I've learned how to collaborate; it's one of the biggest things I've learned, and one of the biggest things I've always been inspired by.” On R + Co:  “I reflected on my first couture show in Paris with Polly Mellen, Irving Penn, and his wife. We were at YSL, I saw the girls come out in all these colors. I was knocked away and it never left me. That color storyboard was so in my head that when we were able to do the R + Co Bleu line and we didn't know what to call it, I said, ‘Bleu'.” What Else: Taking leaps and getting to the next level. Living well and in style. Obsixed: a collection of Garren's lifestyle obsessions. Discover more + Shop The Podcast: R+Co Bleu Reparative Shampoo R+Co Bleu Essential Shampoo⁠  R+Co Badlands Dry Shampoo R+Co Bleu Essentials Hair Tonic R+Co Bleu Root Booster Volume Spray Sisley Paris Supremya At Night Anti Aging Skin Care Sisley Paris Supremya At Night Anti Aging Eye Cream  Sisley Paris Sisleÿa L'integral Anti-Age Hand Care Concentrate⁠ Dustin Pittman New York After Dark Helmet Newton LegacyTod's Loafers in Blue Suede AYR The Normie Straight Leg in Oyster 

The Stories: “Being hot wasn't a crime. I was always the master of my own destiny." “People would be so surprised about how nervous I am. I put myself out there in the roles that I play, but in real life, I can be nervous.”  The Backstory: Being discovered and modeling.  Rapid Fire Role Call: Varsity Blues, Legally Blonde, Final Destination, A Lot Like Love, Obsessed.  Wisdom Rains: “We are allowed to change. If something isn't working, you can make a change”.  What Else: Food, family, and what's next.  On Landman: “I love the show and I love the cast and I love filming in Texas. I have been able to find a part of myself that was gone for a long time.”  Obsixed: 6 of Ali Larter's lifestyle obsessions. Discover more + Shop The Podcast: Kitchen Revelry Cookbook by Ali Larter  Varsity Blues on DVD  Legally Blonde DVD Box Set  Final Destination 5-Film Collection  Bottega Veneta Classic Wool Prince Of Wales Blazer Miu Miu Regard Gold Sunglasses  Khaite Danielle Stretch Jean  Alo Cashmere High Waist Plush Waffle Pant  Weleda Skin Food Original Ultra-Rich Cream  Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast Iron Braiser in Red  Lola Blankets Original Blanket in Caramel N' Cream  Lola Blankets Original Blanket in Black Sand  Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut Champagne  Belvedere Organic Vodka 

What was working with Sistine's face like, as an artist? Talking supermodels of the 1990's. What was the makeup of the 1990's, and what were some of the most popular products?  What did MAC do that turned heads at the time? 1990's browns in makeup are popular again, how does one wear browns? What do you look for in a makeup brand? Talking clean makeup and keeping clients safe, MOB Beauty, Charlotte York's makeup look on And Just Like That, Matin's work with Angelina Jolie, tips + tricks, Matin's favorite MOB Beauty products including the M1990 lip pencil used on Sistine Stallone throughout our Story + Rain cover story. Shop The Podcast: MOB Beauty Smooth Precision Waterproof Lipliner in M1990  MOB Beauty Hydrating Shine Balm in M139  MOB Beauty French in 5 palette  MOB Beauty Cream Clay Eyeshadow in M87  MOB Beauty Blurring Ceramide Cream Foundation 

When you think back to your teen years and growing up, what moments stand out in terms of your parents' creative lives and pursuits? What moments of creativity do you rememberbeing surrounded by? How has it influenced the way that you see the world? Are you a very visual person or expressive person? What have you learned about not only being a creativeperson, but putting any creative dreams you have to work?  When did you know you wanted to try modeling?  What were the catalysts for how it would happen? Do you enjoy acting? With modeling and acting under your belt, the podcast you share with your sister, how do you approach your career? Are you taking time to try things out and see how opportunities unfold organically? Will you dive further into modeling and acting or are there other things you're hoping to do, and as a career? Did you and Sophia ever sit down to really think through how and what you'd cover on the podcast, and how open you be, or how freely you'd speak? You're on the upper end of what's considered Gen Z, what is your general stance on sharing… on your podcast, on social media, and otherwise? What can you say about Gen Z's willingness and inclination really, to shareshareshare? What do you find to be the most challenging part of creating and producing your podcast? Have you received any advice, solicited or unsolicited… when it comes to putting out your podcast? Where do you think you've had the most success, with Unwaxed? Unwaxed has a really vast fan base. What have you heard about how you're reaching and delighting this whole new group of fans as a family? Going on three seasons now, how have you learned to prepare to shoot your show? Mentally, physically – all of it? What does it take to be successful at creating good reality TV? What were the ideas and thoughts that your mother brought to the table and how much did you discuss as a family and also with production – about how you wanted the cameras to capture the Stallone lifestyle? Are there any other learnings — personal growth learnings – that have come with filming your show at this time in your life? On your podcast you talked about living it up this year. What does that mean to you exactly? Are you getting there? How's New York treating you? How's the dating? Obsixed: what's topping your list of lifestyle obsessions? Discover more + Shop The Podcast: Unwaxed podcast on Spotify  The Family Stallone on Paramount+  Freck Beauty The Original Freckle  Refy Beauty Cream Blush in Rose  Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Highlighter Wand in Pinkgasm  Mielle Rosemary Mint Scalp + Hair Strengthening Oil  LYMA Laser  Lioness Daydream Tie Up Jeans

Is there anything that both people always ask you and/or don't ask you, that surprises you? Is it a blessing, a curse, or simply neutral to be someone known as a “child star?" What was the impetus for how your over two-decades-long career would kick off? What's something that you learned early on in your career, and what's something that has taken a while to learn? Do you remember ever feeling unsure of your acting skills? Is there anyone you've had the opportunity to work with and be around who has made a positive impact on you with regard to acting itself, work ethic, professionalism, personality? How often is it that you have to grin and bear it through a commitment? What does that typically mean for you? How do you feel about TV vs. film? What is a good acting partner like? Is there a particular actor or select few whose career you admire most? How do you feel about sort of coming to be known as a bit of a scream queen? What kinds of roles do you dream about? How do you get your best ideas for a character? How do you typically find inspiration for and in your work? Do you find the industry is difficult in terms of actors being able to break into genres and onto projects other than what that particular actor might be known for? Can you share with listeners a little bit about what you've encountered in terms of nudity clauses? What do fans talk to you about most? Do you feel the pressure of being a public figure on social media, to feed it in the way it demands to be fed? Do you look at comments and critiques of your work, on social media and otherwise? When did you know you could sing, and how did you hone your talent over the years while acting? What has in been like, being a part of the Jonas musical label? What's it like being a part of a creative couple and with your musician boyfriend? How does family feed you? What next for you? Obsixed: what's topping your list of lifestyle obsessions? Discover more + Shop The Podcast: Bridge To Terabithia Just Go With It  Good Witch The Complete Series  Pretty Little Liars on HBO Max  Burberry Goddess Eau de Parfum Roz The Healthy Hair Kit  Lolavie Restorative Shampoo  Kristin Ess Softening Conditioner  Stanley The Quencher Tumbler  Sonya Dakar Organic Omega Oil  Sonya Dakar Blue Butterfly Balm  Celsius Energy Drink  Threshold Rustic Palo Santo 3 Wick Candle  Aesop Ptolemy Aromatic Candle  Soho Home Bianco Bergamot + Mandarin Zest Candle  Apparis Brady Jumbo Throw 

Meet the set decorator whose rooms you've fallen in love with for years. With over 35 years in the industry under her belt, Beth Kushnick diligently deals in the details with expert precision. Transforming blank slates into authentic spaces that can reveal an entire life in seconds, Kushnick did that and then some when she spent seven seasons as decorator for CBS's huge hit, The Good Wife. Her work generated so much viewer interest that she was able to collaborate to create the first home décor license in television history with Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, and eventually created her own label, BAK Home, using her expertise to make the aspirational look she's known for, attainable to customers. “Being fiscally responsible is maybe the biggest part of my creativity” Beth explains on our 146th episode, and she shares specifics around the thrill of when it all comes together. Many a client have counted themselves lucky to have the out-of-the-box thinker and deadline-driven design vet work on their homes; and on the podcast we discuss the differences between building a set and furnishing for real life. We run through her robust resume, going behind the scenes on Howard Stern's famous biopic, Private Parts, to how she created upper crust culture for Reversal Of Fortune starring award-winning Jeremy Irons and Glenn Close, as well as many more projects. We talk Kushnick's intimate connection to the city of New York and how its spaces and places have evolved, her greatest influences and mentors, being the best when it comes to budget, and the ardent advice she bestows upon the listeners of her podcast. We rake through recent work, from how Beth served up the supernatural for Patrick Wilson's Insidious: The Red Door to how she applied authenticity to Yvette Lee Bowser's Run The World, and when she worked on Katie Holmes' Rare Objects. We go back to her start in theater, and on the iconic and original Little Shop Of Horrors. Then there's the author she turns to when it comes to her craft, what's world-class when it comes to wallpaper, and some for her favorite Amazon finds. Come along for this close look into the life of an artist who creates the vivid visuals we savor on screen. Our conversations continue as Story + Rain Talks to most talented most interesting, Beth Kushnick. Discover more + Shop The Podcast: Run The World on Prime Video Insidious: The Red Door on Prime Video Rare Objects on Prime Video The Good Wife on Prime Video The Good Fight on Prime Video Reversal Of Fortune on Bluray Private Parts on Bluray Art Is Life by Jerry Saltz How To Be An Artist by Jerry Saltz Clinique Aromatics Elixir Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops Zibeths Velvet Cane Back Dining Chairs Lands Downunder Italian Herringbone Throw Phillip Jeffries wallpaper Persimmons

This week we release our conversation with costume designer and stylist, Paolo Nieddu. Best known for the impact he made working on the hit series fabulously filled his colorful costumes---Lee Daniel's Empire, we dish about details from the set: from key moments and how he dressed Taraji, to little-known secrets and the BTS nitty-gritty of how a stylist organizes and works with wardrobe. Paolo's latest work can be seen on CBS's smash The Equalizer starring Queen Latifah, the action series where the fashion is as fierce as its episode plot lines. On the podcast Paolo shares what he does to create the show's eclectic style and exactly how he conceives of each character's look----and we'll be publishing that into a story you can shop on StoryAndRain.com. Then there's an intimate deep-dive discussion about the magazine industry, being a fashion assistant and intern, and what it's like to work at Interview. Paolo and our founder Tamara share the unique experience of having gotten their start at Andy Warhol's iconic publication. Paolo traces back to his first days in New York and working at fellow Story + Rain Talks podcast guest Patricia Field's legendary boutique, and how he first caught the style icon's eye. He takes us on his career journey that begins with assisting Pat on a DKNY fashion show, to then working on a Sex And The City film, Confessions Of A Shopoholic, The Other Woman, and more. He talks working with Story + Rain cover star Andra Day on the award-winning Billie Holiday film, shares his take on what makes for a successful fashion assistant, how he researches and preps his projects, how he describes his signature aesthetic, being all about accessories, what he's watching, collecting, and more. Our conversations with creatives continue as Story + Rain Talks to Paolo Nieddu. Discover more + Shop The Podcast: The Equalizer on Paramount+   Lee Daniels' Empire, season 1  Lee Daniels' Empire, season 2  Lee Daniels' Empire, season 3   Lee Daniels' Empire, season 4   Lee Daniels' Empire, season 5   United States v Billie Holiday   Baccarat champagne glasses  Sisley Paris Black Rose Cream Mask  Casa Dragones tequila Apple AirPods 

We're excited about all the newness from one of our favorite writers and podcast hosts, (and reluctant actor), Jenny Mollen. She's launching her new podcast, All The Fails, and added a new Substack, The Best Friend Experience. On this week's episode we discuss everything we love about the one-of-a-kind Substack she shares with Diablo Cody, Can I Ask You A Personal Question? and get into all the details behind her can't-put-it-down bestselling book, City Of Likes. We get Jenny's take on the state of social media, and she gets specific about how it's affected her own life. And it's not surprising how funny she is when we ask her what it takes to find a following, and about the “vicious cycle” of her voice. We cut right into the openness and honesty at the core of her work, and its origin, and talk about the time when she was rallied to become a writer. Jenny shares what it takes to get the big ideas, the book she's planning next,  and when to share and be vulnerable, and when to zip it. We discuss her book, Dictator Lunches, how she became The Lunch Lady, and what it's like cooking in the kitchen with her husband Jason (involves lots of 90's tunes). Pardon the cliché, but Jenny's a girl's-girl, so we ask her what she looks for in a friend and she talks about the kind of women who inspire her. We chat about Chelsea Handler, Jenny's dear friend and our May 2021cover star, talk where to live, the best salad, seeking out seed oils, and dish about a designer's dinner party. We're gonna be honest, there was so much chatting, we had to cut things up and edit things out…talk about a best friend experience. Our conversations with creatives continue, as Story + Rain Talks to Jenny Mollen. Discover more + Shop The Podcast: All The Fails podcast Jenny Mollen on Substack Jenny Mollen + Diablo Cody on Substack City Of Likes by Jenny Mollen Shop vintage + donate @theshirtsoffmyback Dictator Lunches by Jenny Mollen Live Fast Die Hot by Jenny Mollen I Like You Just The Way I Am by Jenny Mollen Jason (Biggs') Red Sauce Juna Nightcap Sleep Gummies BonberiBonberi Mart sweatshirt Bonberi Body Harmony cookbook by Nicole Berrie  Vintage army shirt

The red carpet has one thing in common these days, and that's Tyler Ellis. The daughter of iconic fashion designer Perry Ellis seems to be fulfilling her destiny by taking Hollywood by storm and with the expansion of her luxury handbag line. On this week's podcast, we sit down with Ellis, raised in LA by her TV writer and executive mother, her famous father tragically dying in under two years after her birth, to talk the trajectory of the brand she's proudly built. Tyler shares the major message she received, loud and clear, from the one and only Michael Kors, when and why she felt ready to take on her last name professionally, and the importance in understanding every aspect of business. You'll hear Tyler's perspective on the Perry Ellis legacy and learn more about the incredible story behind her birth and brand logo. We get into the intricate attention to detail found in every Tyler Ellis handbag and meanings behind it all, what she aims to deliver in her designs, and talk seasonless sensibility. Tyler shares details around the momentous moment when she purchased her own factory outside of Florence and embracing life as an “Italiano”. Tyler shares what it's like to compete with other luxury brands, takes us behind the scenes in loaning her line to all those famous faces, and she explains nitty gritty behind exactly how a handbag hits the red carpet. We talk the art of the handbag and working with artisans, the importance in choosing brand partners that feel special and who understand her brand, charity work and life with balance, what six things she's most into these days, and when it comes to carrying her bags, which celebrity poses positively perfectly. Our conversations with creatives continue, as Story + Rain Talks to Tyler Ellis. Discover more + Shop The Podcast: Tyler Ellis Veronica Clutch Tyler Ellis Stella Wicker Handbag Artist  Gregor Hildebrandt Sisley Eye Contour Mask Ginori 1735 handmade porcelain 100% Capri clothing

On our latest Story + Rain Talks podcast, our cover star, Cleo Wade, details the freedom that comes with being a poet. She's someone who has always had a notebook with her, or napkins she'd write on, napkins with notes she'd often share with friends. Releasing two long-awaited books within one year, Cleo shares how she came to birth her November 2023 release, Remember Love. Feeling moved to write for this moment in time, the author and activist tells us she was interested in the ways in which we can claim and reclaim ourselves to live at a pace that she describes as deeply human, and NOT at the speed of wifi. We discuss her May-release children's book, May You Love And Be Loved, and how the most important thing she aims to convey in her books for children is that we raise a generation of kids that asks them to go see the world and to know that “we're all in this together”.  Along with a discussion about her artist parents and first intro to poetry, the New Orleans native says she was raised in part by the city itself, a place where its bon vivant inhabitants work in order to pay their bills, so that they can go to Mardi Gras. On the episode, Cleo describes her dedication New Orleans' really specific way of living, a way of living she follows everywhere. We get into friendship, and how it has been the “gold” of her life. We talk about the importance in not living in idea-phase, about what work in the world of fashion has taught her, why her husband has been a huge source of inspiration. We tapped Cleo for her some valuable thoughts on social media and what her role on her platforms has been. We discuss favorite things, how to be a friend to yourself, and much more. Discover more + Shop The Podcast: May You Love and Be Loved: Wishes For Your Life by Cleo Wade Remember Love: Words for Tender Times by Cleo Wade  What the Road Said by Cleo Wade Heart Talk: The Journal by Cleo Wade Where to Begin by Cleo Wade Heart Talk by Cleo Wade House of Harlow 14k Gold Plated Thick Earring Huggie Hoop Set Wilder Mind by Mumford + Sons On Vinyl Goop Beauty All-In-One Super Nutrient Face Oil Rivet Utility Worker Stretch Short Sleeve Jumpsuit The Edna Lewis Cookbook by Edna Lewis and Evangeline Peterson G.Label By Goop O'Neill Silk Boy Button Down

This week we're talking to the superyacht captain with 33 years of experience who became a public figure in a flash when she began starring in Bravo's beloved Below Deck, the series that's famously found fans far and wide. We sit down with Sandy Yawn to talk about how she is creative in her work, and how she's built a stellar career on the sea. We discuss her early story and what led her to sobriety, and how the before and after of getting sober has contributed to her success. Sandy shares so many stories---from the biggest moments in her career, to behind the scenes on the series and with her crew, and we discuss production, whom Sandy sees as the client, when she's filming. She shares what it's like to be a woman in a male-dominated industry, and we ask her about her relationship with the vessel: the huge piece of intricate machinery that she is the boss of. Known for her nurturing, Sandy breaks down the hallmarks of an excellent leader, talks setting boundaries, resilience, her management style, and more. We talk bucket-list travel, and how she finds a sense of place in a life on the move. Sandy gets candid, 8 years in, about whether she was prepared for turning the cameras on and into her professional life, and the oversharing that the cameras beg for. This week's podcast gives you a look into Sandy's joy-filled heart, a peek into her plans for a new home, what her wedding will look like, and the boat she's eyeing for herself. We chat about why she wakes up each day filled with positive energy, but not before getting her to explain exactly how she does it: balancing being kind and generous and empathetic with commanding such respect. Our conversations with creatives continue, as Story + Rain talks to Captain Sandy Yawn. Discover more: Captain Sandy Yawn Below Deck Mediterranean on Bravo

We talked to the designer who, eighteen years ago, established and nailed an aesthetic that's since soared in popularity. Exploding onto the scene with her leaf design made popular by Jennifer Aniston's character in the film The Break Up, Jennifer Meyer creates and has created countless collectible pieces that define the day-to-day when it comes to modern iconic fine jewelry. Jen tells the story behind the leaf, how exactly she nabbed a much-coveted spot at Barneys New York, and making a gift for Alber Elbaz. We discuss how her father helped instill her strong work ethic from the day she stepped foot off Syracuse's campus, and how one $500 a week PR job turned into a major magazine stint, and roles at Armani and Ralph Lauren. Jen shares her brand's most game-changing moments, why slow and steady wins the race, and how staying in one's lane can create success. She shares how she blindly chased the design ideas she'd had in her heart and soul… and also shares her philosophies for living life and building a brand with heart and soul. We get into the symbolism that's core to the Jennifer Meyer collection and to Jen personally--- and her necklace that truly makes magic. There's the Jennifer Meyer secret sauce as she describes it; you'll hear Jen share her vision for being one with one's jewelry. Also on the podcast, we dive into the waters of Malibu to discuss her newly-released fragrance collection, where even scent tells a story. We get an intimate peek at her Vogue Fashion Fund times, and her relationship with mentor Diane Von Furstenberg. We also talk connecting with her multigenerational customer, and how the people she surrounds herself with inspire her. Jen gives great advice for entrepreneurs and shares life lessons, words to live by, and why success means being at peace. Jen's got a fantastic obsixed list of favorite things, including the key pieces she turns to in her own collection. Our conversations with creatives continue, as Story + Rain Talks to Jennifer Meyer. Discover more + Shop The Podcast: Jennifer Meyer Large Leaf necklace   Jennifer Meyer Large Leaf earrings  Jennifer Meyer Good Luck necklace  Jennifer Meyer Diamond Wishbone necklace Jennifer Meyer Mini Wishbone bracelet  Jennifer Meyer Large Hammered Heart necklace Jennifer Meyer candle  Jennifer Meyer fragrance Jennifer Meyer rollerball fragrance Jennifer Meyer hand + body cream  C + The Moon Malibu Made Body Scrub Roe caviar U Beauty The Super Hydrator U Beauty The Plasma Lip Compound Favorite Daughter Jamie sweater in black Sp5der hoodie Sp5der sweatpants

This week has us sitting down with the food expert whose recipes are splashed all over NYT Cooking. You'll hear about her three most-made meals, and her popular pasta hashtag and its collection of dishes. You'll also hear about how she went from cabaret singer to bartender to publicist, to working on actor-turned-vintner Kyle MacLachlan's Pursued By Bear wines. We talk about exactly when it was that Colu Henry took her deep dive into the culinary world, and her extensive background in creating and editing recipes. We get into the look, the feel, the food of Colu's two cookbooks to date, and how her romantic and robust storytelling sets her apart from the rest. Listen in to hear all about spending quality time with friends, a favorite restaurant to add to your list, and an Instagram memes account to go to for laugh. Discover where Colu buys her crab, and how an air compressor became a terrific tool in the kitchen.We talk being cozy and cooking on vacation, and why doing so tests one's creativity. On the podcast Colu shares stories around her writer-roots, and the future she's got waiting for her in the 1800's Nova Scotia farmhouse she and her husband are restoring themselves. Colu shares what it's like working with a spouse, a surprise discovered deep amongst the pages of one of her years of notebooks, and her Italian grandmother's influence. Get a candid and firsthand account about what it's like to be a woman working in food, and the pressure that exists to be a "bon vivant", but to look a certain way. We discuss stepping into her voice, and the details around her beloved Substack that make it worth reading and why it feeds Colu's own soul. We talk meat as an accessory, how turkey is the chicken that keeps on giving, and the tastemaker shares what tops her list of favorite things from books to condiments. Of course, we break down the best and chicest ways to feed a crowd including the masterful menus she has and is putting together for her birthday and for the holidays. Our conversations with creatives continue, as Story + Rain Talks to Colu Henry. Discover more + Shop The Podcast: ColuHenry.comColu Cooks cookbook Back Pocket Pasta cookbook Rona Inao/Iso Tasting Wine Glasses FLY BY Jing Chengdu Crunch Sauce Pike Place Market Fresh Wild Dungeness Crab Meat Ilia Color Block Lipstick in Flame Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara The Sicilian Inheritance by Jo Piazza Girls They Write Songs About by Carlene Bauer Bread Toast Crumbs cookbook by Alexandra Stafford Pizza Night cookbook by Alexandra Stafford House + Garden A Year in the Kitchen cookbook Sezane Gaspard Cardigan Sezane Otto Sweater Sezane Basil Cardigan

If you don't know, now you know. James Alsop, a one-time contestant on Bravo's Step It Up And Dance, is now one of the entertainment industry's most sought-after choreographers doing some of the most interesting work. James began her career as co-choreographer of Beyoncé's videos, tour, and promotional materials for the multi-platinum selling records Who Run the World, Dance For You, and Love on Top. And we get into how she made her way into dancing with Beyonce, here. She also assisted in choreographing the huge hit  music video Booty by Jennifer Lopez. James has worked with Paul Thomas Anderson for the Haim music video Just A Little of Your Love, and after choreographing the entire season of Maya Rudolph and Martin Short's variety series Maya + Marty, she was asked by Tina Fey to choreograph season three of the Emmy nominated series The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. A truly incredible body of work, and there's more. She most recently choreographed the Peacock musical TV series Girls5Eva starring Story + Rain cover star Busy Phillips, and UnPrisoned, the Tracy McMillan series starring Kerry Washington.  Then there's Pose, the superbowl, the Dahmer series, Emily In Paris; the Gossip Girl reboot; and it was a dream come true when James worked on the Whitney Houston biopic, I Wanna Dance With Somebody. There are so many more projects to name. On the podcast we talk about that experience as well as her vision for The Devil Wears Prada musical, and being inspired by the ways people walk, for it. We discuss working through her feelings and her skillset to choreograph the upcoming A Transparent Musical, based on the Emmy award winning series from Amazon Prime. We talk living by the rule of rising to the occasion to be the best you can be, the time she surprised Beyonce, and the time she was at a party that changed her life, and that was shortly before Story + Rain's Editor in Chief and Founder, Tamara, met James. James loves to teach; we talk about her teaching style and philosophies, and her dancing style---"intricate, sexy, and groovy” is how she describes it. We talk all about sticking with the dream, and the opportunities that opened up after she decided to  “wake up and see who I really am every day”. Tired of hiding, James transitioned in 2015. From stories about mornings in the kitchen with her siblings singing and dancing with her mother blasting Luther Vandross, to when Tamara met and dressed James in LA on a Bravo ad campaign set and when she knew there was a superstar before her---you'll be inspired. One of our favorite people, a one-of-a-kind talent, our conversations with creatives continue as Story + Rain talks to James Alsop. Discover more + Shop The Podcast:Folllow James Alsop on InstagramI Wanna Dance With Somebody Above And Beyonce Video Collection + Dance MixesSpare by Prince Harry The Duke Of Sussex

You will love this conversation about the latest and the best of the beauty industry with our next guests. We're talking to Violet Grey's Founder, Cassandra Grey, and Sarah Brown, Executive Director of Violet Lab at Violet Grey, formerly of Vogue. This is a unique chat and a special treat, getting to talk to the esteemed experts together. VioletGrey.com, of course, is a content and commerce destination (we know a little something about that) for all things beauty, that so many of us love, known for its supremely-vetted, highest-quality product; product that Violet Grey helps to make most coveted. Go behind the scenes with us here, as you get an intimate peek at how Cassandra and Sarah collaborate and complement one another. We discuss the before and after of acquisition by Farfetch in 2022. You'll learn all about exactly what Violet Lab and The Violet Code is, how it works, what makes for a great committee member, and how (and why) it was established. From Cassandra and Sarah, you'll hear about their deeply cared-for customer, the Hollywood influence on Violet Grey content, and how celebrity beauty has evolved over the years. Cassandra tells her story of starting up, and Sarah shares what she gets to experience at Violet Grey that she hadn't experienced previously in her career. Cassandra and Sarah share how they know when a new-to-market brand is doing something special, and we do an extremely deep dive into all the products, tools---and the artists and entrepreneurs behind them---that are making the biggest impressions on each of them…including what's in their own current personal beauty and wellness routines today. Get a glimpse ahead at the future of beauty with some interesting insight into what's set to start taking off and trending. Our conversations with creatives continue, as Story + Rain Talks to Cassandra Grey and Sarah Brown of Violet Grey.  Discover more + Shop The Podcast: violetgrey.com Westman Atelier Vital Skincare Complexion Drops ⁠⁠ Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush Stick ⁠⁠ Westman Atelier Face Trace Contour Stick ⁠⁠ Westman Atelier Beauty Butter Powder Bronzer ⁠ Jillian Dempsey Cheek Tint ⁠⁠Chanel No 102 Foundation Blending Brush ⁠⁠ Brodo bone broth ⁠ Dr Loretta Universal Glow Daily Defense SPF 40  ⁠⁠ R + Co Bleu Essential Shampoo ⁠⁠ R + CO Bleu Essential Conditioner ⁠⁠ Eighth Day Regenerative Serum ⁠⁠ U Beauty Resurfacing Compound ⁠ U Beauty Resurfacing Body Compound Lyma Laser 

This week we sit down with actor and artist Jemima Kirke to talk creativity, collecting, painting, inspiration, and more. With our latest cover star, we discuss her deeply artistic upbringing and how her experiences at schools, St Anns and RISDE, have shaped her. Jemima talks about the time when she learned to make art for different reasons, and why dreams shouldn't be trusted. She shares deeply personal insights into her sisters Lola and Domino, and her perspective on what it is and isn't, to be both a mother and an artist. On the podcast, for us Jemima colors in intimate corners of her studio space, and the look and feel of her home. We talk about who has collected her work, having artists as friends, life as a single parent, eating ice cream for breakfast, and enjoying time with her children. We get to the essence of why children's costumes have a cherished place in her heart, and discuss her vintage + antique children's collection, Orphan Darling, and her series of paintings, Scamp. Jemima gets into painting two people, her favorite piece of work to date, and setting her art free. We wrap with the vintage magazines and catalogs she keeps collecting, have a chat about pants versus dresses, and how she's learned to practice self care these days. Then there's the how and the what of her famous lip look, including a current favorite color, and all of the old films she's revisiting, and why. Our conversations with creatives continue, as Story + Rain talks to Jemima Kirke. Discover more + Shop The Podcast: Scamp | paintings by Jemima Kirke  @Orphan_Darling vintage + antique children's clothing by Jemima Kirke Ice cream maker Vintage Montgomery Ward catalogs Vintage House + Garden The 400 Blows film Cleo From 5 To 7 film Hermes Rose Boisé lipstick

A life's dream was realized when Abigail Cook Stone's company, Otherland candles, was acquired in June 2023 by Curio brands---the umbrella company behind Anthropologie's famed Capri Blue candle with a fierce following. The founder and CEO of Otherland is as passionate about candles as it gets, and her success since 2017's launch reflects that. On the podcast she shares just how she was introduced to candles, and how she went from a round of roles at Ralph Lauren to pitching her brand and starting up. Abigail explains how she gathered her research for how she was going to make her mark in an oversaturated space, creating candles that would look and feel like luxury, yet weren't too precious to burn.  We get into the olfactive creative process, some little- known details around candle making and manufacturing, and of course, scent. We do a deep dive into story and scent, and Otherland's most popular and most interesting ones. Abigail describes how a collection comes together, the one place that she gets all her best ideas,  her arts-immersive upbringing, talks about her own scent memories, and that it's not necessarily about replicating scent memory, but about reinterpreting it.  We talk Otherland's distinct artwork and how Story + Rain and Otherland share part of their brand build story. The entrepreneur lets us in on her biggest learnings, talks trends, candle culture, “me time”, and plans for brand expansion.  This, #Obsixed obsessions, and much more. Our conversations with creatives continue, as Story + Rain talks to Abigail Cook Stone of Otherland. Discover more + Shop The Podcast: Otherland.com  Otherland Crisp Cornflower candle  Otherland Fallen Fir candle  Otherland Extra Hour candle  Otherland Canary candle  Body vodka  Tarka Oil Spicy Organic Ghee from Paro Foods  Verilux Happy Light  DRMTLGY sunscreen  Supergoop Resetting Mist  follow @storyandraintalks on instagram for our very latest drops + more pod content ⁠HERE⁠ | follow @storyandrain magazine on instagram⁠ HERE⁠ | follow our host + founder @tamarararappa ⁠HERE⁠ | discover, read, shop: fashion, beauty, wellness, tv + film, food, travel, interviews, + more on ⁠storyandrain.com

This week we're catching up with Whitney Tingle, a trailblazer in clean eating and the power of food as medicine. She's, of course, Cofounder of Sakara. It's eleven years from launch, and today Sakara has culled a community of dedicated clients. In fact, on the podcast, Whitney reads one of the many notes she receives from customers who share just how Sakara has been life changing for them. Known for their plant-based meal plans, innovative supplements, superfood snacks, and cookbook filled with the brand's signature rainbow of recipes, Whitney shares special details around some of Sakara's meal favorites, their best-selling metabolism super powder , our personal favorite—Sakara's beauty and detox water drops---and more. We talk growing up with gardening and in Sedona, and here, Whitney lets us in on the depth of severity in her early health struggle story. She calls out the Big Apple for what she describes as a “catalyst” city, explaining that there couldn't have been any other place where she and cofounder Danielle could have built their brand with a cult following. She shares her perspective on building a business and being an entrepreneur, hashes out the how in how many people's diets are filled with what Whitney calls “one hundred versions of pizza”. We get into the specifics behind how the Sakara cookbook was established, and the brand's visually stunning, plant-rainbow meals based on their 9 Pillars Of Nutrition. And speaking of stunning, we get into how Sakara has come to be a stand-out in terms of visual branding, a brand where fashion meets food, as Whitney says. Then there are the out-of-he-box (pun intended) ways in which Whitney uses Sakara meals in her own life that you'll want to follow yourself. We know we do. We discuss some cool collabs with KORA and Erewhon, and how science is addressing the power of the mind and mindset when it comes to health and nutrition. Lastly –we've got 14 items from skin and hair care, to meal prep shortcuts, and what Whitney's wearing for you---discussed in detail and shoppable in show notes, on StoryAndRain.com, and on Instagram, as always. Our conversations with creatives continue, as Story + Rain talks to Whitney Tingle of Sakara. Discover more + Shop The Podcast:Sakara.com and 9 Pillars Of Nutrition Sakara Beauty Water + Detox Water Drops Sakara Metabolism Super Powder  Sakara Metabolism Protein Super Bar  Sakara Complete Probiotic Formula Sakara Eat Clean Play Dirty CookbookMaya Kaimal Tikka Masala Simmer Sauce Maya Kaimal Coconut Korma Mild Simmer Sauce Living Libations Best Skin Ever Cleanser Moisturizer Living Libations Shampoo Living Libations Conditioner Vintner's Daughter Active Botanical Serum Vintner's Daughter Active Treatment Essence Vintner's Daughter Active Renewal Cleanser  Le Prunier Plumscreen SPF 31 The PureLift Lab Pure Lift Face Outdoor Voices Exercise Dress Magnesium Citrate follow @storyandraintalks on instagram for our very latest drops + more pod content ⁠HERE⁠ | follow @storyandrain magazine on instagram⁠ HERE⁠ | follow our host + founder @tamarararappa ⁠HERE⁠ | discover, read, shop: fashion, beauty, wellness, tv + film, food, travel, interviews, + more on ⁠storyandrain.com

follow @storyandraintalks on instagram for our very latest drops + more pod content ⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠ | follow @storyandrain magazine on instagram⁠⁠ HERE⁠⁠ | follow our host + founder @tamarararappa ⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠ | discover, read, shop: fashion, beauty, wellness, tv + film, food, travel, interviews, + more on ⁠⁠storyandrain.com

This week we talk to a couple of tastemakers who built and are growing a brand that is changing the game in personal care products, creating a new era in self care. Known at their fragrance house for choosing to spend ten times more than Tom Ford Fragrances on raw materials, co-founder and Head Of Creative, Phil Wong, and Creative Director Taylor Okata of Hawthorne talk pouring style, love, and also respect for their customer, into each and every product they design. Hawthorne was founded when Phil and Co Founder Brian Jeong were sick of overusing outdated products made with cheap ingredients that pushed an outdated version of personal care products for men. With shared values and aesthetics, longtime friend and stylist Taylor joined the team, and on the podcast we talk all about their collaborative creative process---a process that includes the constant pulling of references, the building of moodboards, and tons of daily discussions. We discuss the Hawthorne trio's experience with the products that had existed in the space before they got there, how the brand has culled their modern point of view, and the responses they receive when their customer discovers Hawthorne has multi-racial and Asian owners. We ask them all about how they roll deep in the candle game with their seven-candle offering, we get into their gifting customer, and working with Target and Nordstrom. The team talks about their love of and the importance of scent, having the best of testers in their friends, and they talk being in talks with a celebrity investor. We discuss diversity, category and gender, bravely breaking into the market, and more. As always, we wrap with what tops these trendsetters #Obsixed lists of current obsessions, but not before doing a deep dive into all the Hawthorne products, including greatest hits and personal faves. Trust me, after listening you'll find yourself adding to cart and buying their bundles. Our conversations with creatives continue, as Story + Rain Talks to Phil and Taylor of Hawthorne. Discover more + Shop The Podcast: Hawthorne.co Hawthorne Mineral Wave Cologne Hawthorne Gentle Sensitive Face Cleanser Hawthorne Stain-Free Deodorant Hawthorne Exfoliating Bar Soap The Five Minute Journal Silk pillowcase Nike by Shygirl on vinyl follow @storyandraintalks on instagram for our very latest drops + more pod content ⁠HERE⁠ | follow @storyandrain magazine on instagram⁠ HERE⁠ | follow our host + founder @tamarararappa ⁠HERE⁠ | discover, read, shop: fashion, beauty, wellness, tv + film, food, travel, interviews, + more on ⁠storyandrain.com

Take three deep breaths, and join our conversation with one of the most exciting creatives today, and it all starts with abundant appreciation. In an exclusive interview, we sit down with #1 New York Times Bestselling Author, Award-Winning Podcast Host Of On Purpose, Chief Purpose Officer of Calm, and Story + Rain Cover Star, Jay Shetty. This is a favorite, must-listen Story + Rain Talks episode, not only because Jay shares the spot-on words of wisdom he's known for, but because we take on topics you might not have heard Jay tackle. We get into his brilliance for branding, how his extensive study of public speaking serves him today…and the time in his life when it hadn't yet served him. He lets us in on the intimate ritual he shares with his guests before each of his podcast recordings, and the four pillars of intentionality embedded within all the work that he does---pillars Jay created when he first started his work---hidden and not publicly known, but that he shares in this intimate conversation with us, here. Jay gets granular about the different aspects of his brand, and the importance in individualizing each of his projects in look and feel and tone, for all of his vast and dedicated audience. When it comes to those On Purpose podcast episodes that we all can't get enough of, Jay allowed us to pick apart his process, and on the podcast you'll learn how his candescent conversations take shape. Here's a hint: you might be surprised to find out that it's way less polish, so much presence…and all about the "50|50".  We chat with Jay about his lifestyle, and about how and why he learned to pay more attention to his health. We discuss his routines and practices, and the things that top his list of current obsessions in the health and wellness space. Story + Rain, of course, makes them shoppable here, and in our shop on Instagram. Then there's the sage advice: the book he recommends highly, a message to content creators about substance over form, one of the things that allows him to achieve laser-like focus, and why building relationships slowly is the way to work it. We take a large look at how Jay Shetty took his talent for talk on his recent Love Rules tour, a show peppered with all his personal loves, and where worldwide audiences felt his meticulously-assembled and powerful demonstrations of the magic in growth. We dissect his definition of creativity. And because he's delightfully curious to the depths, we had to ask Jay to take us through exactly what his research process looks like, and it all starts with something he's struggling with. This, and so much more on this very special episode. And hopefully more to come, when we catch up with our favorite creator next. He's a true treasure for how he has and continues to transcend and transform wisdom and wellbeing, and because he puts more beauty and love into our world. Our conversations with creatives continue, as Story + Rain Talks to Jay Shetty. Discover more + Shop The Podcast: Subscribe to the Jay Shetty On Purpose Podcast 8 Rules Of Love book Think Like A Monk book Jay Shetty Book Bundle 40% on Calm App subscription to receive The Daily Jay daily meditations The Culture Code book by Daniel Coyle Rae Wellness Pre + Probiotic supplement Omni-Biotic Microbiome Restoration probiotic powder Clothing by Bode  Sony 1000XM5 Headphones in black follow @storyandraintalks on instagram for our very latest drops + more pod content HERE | follow @storyandrain magazine on instagram HERE | follow our host + founder @tamarararappa HERE | discover, read, shop: fashion, beauty, wellness, tv + film, food, travel, interviews, + more on storyandrain.com

Enduring in everything from TV to film, on this week's podcast, Story + Rain  cover star Jordana Brewster talks twenty-two years of Fast + Furious,  as the franchise motors through a milestone with billions at the box office, and latest film, Fast X. The beloved beauty and talent shares where she is at 43. She shares her thoughts on the crop of plum roles for females in their forties that interests her, how the entertainment industry has evolved, and who and what she loves to watch herself, specifically. She takes us on her long, wild ride as an actor, from starring in 1990's favorite The Faculty to finding her way into the Ryan Murphy American Crime Story family. We discuss the corral of confidence she had as a kid that landed her those very first, life-changing roles, who she was as a student at Yale, posing for magazines then and now, and dating Mark Wahlberg in the days before social media. We talk wild days and nerdy days, and not dimming one's light. Describing herself as a girl's-girl, Jordana explains why it's worthwhile to be friends with other working moms, dishes details about her relationships with her longtime Fast family, what she's proud of most in making the Fast films, and she also shares stories about recent and upcoming projects, Who Invited Charlie?, and Neon, in which she plays a lesbian drug lord. She talks about what it's like to be globally famous, what she wants for Mia and for Fast's all-female spin off, what it means to practice self-care, how she maintains balance, and her favorites in everything from fashion to fitness, and more. Our conversations with creatives continues as Story + Rain Talks to actor and our stunning cover star, Jordana Brewster. Discover more + Shop The Podcast:Watch Fast XFast + Furious 9 Movie CollectionWatch Who Invited Charlie?Watch + own The FacultyWatch + own American Crime Story: The People vs. O.J. SimpsonDenim skirt and Elena Linen Two piece from ReformationFoam rollerfollow @storyandraintalks on instagram for our very latest drops + more pod content HERE | follow @storyandrain magazine on instagram HERE | follow our host + founder @tamarararappa HERE | discover, read, shop: fashion, beauty, wellness, tv + film, food, travel, interviews, + more on storyandrain.com

Take a ride through the actor's life and listen to our latest episode. Lily Rabe, who can currently be seen in David E. Kelley's Love + Death on HBO Max, and on Shrinking on Apple TV +, is the daughter of prolific playwright David Rabe and celebrated actress, Jill Clayburgh, and we begin our conversation with her childhood spent near the stage. Watching the world's greatest talent in rehearsals for her father's masterpiece, Hurlyburly, Lily was bitten by the performance bug early on. We discuss her time as a dancer and how that turned to acting, life at Northwestern and her very fancy degree, and how life almost imitated art when she played a restaurant-employed actor for the film No Reservations. She describes why her heart belongs to theater and the “religious experience” that is performing Shakespeare In The Park. We discuss being a part of the Ryan Murphy American Horror Story family, and in a quick fire round, Lily talks playing Liz Cheney, the sheer joy she felt during The Undoing, why George Clooney is the happiest person, and why her role in his The Tender Bar opposite Ben Affleck was a favorite, and why George and Ben are, too. We discuss crafting the complicated relationship her character Meg has with Harrison Ford's Paul in Shrinking, and we talk in detail about why embodying Betty Gore for Love + Death sometimes meant taking her home with her, for better or worse. Having worked with her husband Hamish over many years, Lily tells us why co-directing the soon-to-be-released film Downtown Owl whet their appetites for much more. And on the subject of  "more”, Lily tells us why she's feeling so fulfilled…. so will simply take some more of that, please. We touch on Presumed Innocent, ahead for her on AppleTV+ and co-starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Ruth Negga. We talk about how paying attention to saying no helped build her brilliant career, and why she looks to feel compelled to play a part. And lastly, Lily shares her great taste with a long list of her most favorite obsessions. We hope you love our conversation with everyone's favorite, Lily Rabe, just as much as we do. Discover more + Shop The Podcast:Watch Lily Rabe as Betty Gore in Love + Death  on HBO MaxWatch Lily Rabe in Shrinking on AppleTV+See Downtown Owl, co-directed by and starring Lily RabeCranberry-Lime PieKhaite The Danielle jeanKhaite The Evi sweaterKhaite The Jo sweaterKhaite The Mae sweaterShani Darden Skincare LED MaskShani Darden Skincare Triple Action Signature PeelShani Darden Hydration Peptide Creamfollow @storyandraintalks on instagram for our very latest drops + more pod content HERE | follow @storyandrain magazine on instagram HERE | follow our host + founder @tamarararappa HERE | discover, read, shop: fashion, beauty, wellness, tv + film, food, travel, interviews, + more on storyandrain.com

For this week's podcast, we sit down with Mina Stone, the chef, cookbook author and restauranteur who mashes up fashion and art, with food. What could be better? Mina got her start working in fashion and at our friend Claude's legendary magazine, Trace, and on the podcast, Mina discusses her early years, and how fashion turned to food when she was introduced to New York City's art world. She tells us all about her first big gigs, what fueled her confidence, and the blind faith of youth that proved to be life-changing for her. We also talk about the early influences of home-cooked food and her Greek heritage on her cooking, her years of cooking for artists (and the title of her first cookbook) and how artists approach, perceive, value, and enjoy food. We get granular with Urs Fischer's cuisine deep-dives, discuss the discovery of a list of Elizabeth Peyton's loves and hates (tzatziki, yes; mesclun greens, no). And Mina recounts the details and impact of her work in recent years, working with and telling stories of food through the artists of MoMA PS1. She shares what she's learned through her restaurant there, what she likes to wear in the kitchen, and her latest obsession with Caribbean culture and flavors. We get into the importance of color…in everything from food to her personal style, some tips and dishes for entertaining, and her brilliant list of favorite things. Discover more + Shop The Podcast:Mina's NYC at MoMA PS1Cooking For Artists by Mina StoneLemon, Love + Olive Oil by Mina StoneDaphnis and Chloe Greek Tea Gift SetAlex Mill jumpsuitsVacation SPF 30 Chardonnay OilMotherland: A Jamaican Cookbook by Melissa Thompsonfollow @storyandraintalks on instagram for our very latest drops + more pod content HERE | follow @storyandrain magazine on instagram HERE | follow our host + founder @tamarararappa HERE | discover, read, shop: fashion, beauty, wellness, tv + film, food, travel, interviews, + more on storyandrain.com

Story + Rain cover star Sophie Thatcher is an artist through-and-through. The Yellowjackets star immerses herself in acting, music, art, writing, and fashion. On episode 128 we discuss the importance of connecting to art, how it can be transformative, and Sophie's vision for being as vulnerable and as chameleon-like as possible in her work. We discuss her being intense as a kid, how she's been influenced by music, and also by growing up Mormon. We talk about the special relationship she has with her twin, a fellow artist, and their matching tastes. We get into the first time she was on set, her feelings about theater, and the things that inspire her very strong artistic and visual sensibility. We chat about finding home on the road, planting roots in Silver Lake, and falling in love with having a sense of place. Listen in for an intimate BTS discussion on all things Yellowjackets, the hit Showtime series currently streaming on Hulu, in which Sophie has the unique experience of playing the younger version of the older version of a character played by Juliette Lewis. Thatcher shares how sharing the role with Lewis has given her more confidence as an actor and fuel for pursuing all her artistic interests. She tells us about the impact a serious scooter accident had on how she played Natalie, and we dive into all the details of her season-two story lines. Sophie weighs in on the show's discussions of belief system. And then there's the cannibalism. Sophie  talks about the panic, out-of-body experience, disassociation, and “weird day” on set involved in shooting the season's much-anticipated key scene, and more. You'll hear about the June release of the Stephen King movie, The Boogeyman and her role in it, opposite Chris Messina, the music she paints to, how she makes music, and walks us through her home for her #Obsixed list of current obsessions. Discover more + Shop The Podcast: Stream Yellowjackets on HuluNovation SynthesizerSam Shepard: Seven PlaysDior Forever Couture Luminizer in Pink GlowYazuaki Shimizu Kakashi CDExuma's Life on vinylfollow @storyandraintalks on instagram for our very latest drops + more pod content HERE | follow @storyandrain magazine on instagram HERE | follow our host + founder @tamarararappa HERE | discover, read, shop: fashion, beauty, wellness, tv + film, food, travel, interviews, + more on storyandrain.com

With solid footing in television, including her breakout role in beloved Netflix Series,13 Reasons Why, actor Alisha Boe intrigues in Jesse Eisenberg's recently released indie film, When You Finish Saving The World, begging the question: what's next? Here, our latest cover star discusses what it was like working with the actor who wrote and directed his first film, and playing Lila. She explains what drew her to the part, her initial thoughts on playing opposite Finn Wolfhard in the film, how she's both similar to and different from her character, and why stories about the parent-child relationship move her.  We discuss her early start as a performer at age 7, life in Norway, doing cartwheels in the airport upon touching down in LA, growing up as a young actor in the Valley, and being home-schooled, because she was picking up so much work. Alisha names the shows, films, and actors who helped stoke her interest in her career, how simultaneously working on series' like Ray Donovan and CSI  taught her to be comfortable on set, and what it's like to collaborate with crew. Having not discussed it for some time, Alisha revisits and reflects upon 13 Reasons Why in an exclusive conversation here, and talks about her life-changing role as assault survivor, Jessica Davis, and how Jessica's story provoked and still provokes constant conversation in her life.  We get into the series' serious topics that she describes as 'personal', how the experience made her 'less naive', and how playing Jessica made her feel more connected to people.  We talk her feelings about social media, what's important when picking projects, and work-life balance. We go behind the scenes on Alisha's photo project with our episode 59 guest, artist Sarah Bahbah, and get into when she feels most comfortable in front of the camera, and how she feels about fashion. We discuss her values of friendship and home, the push-and-pull of inspiration, the beauty of a well-worn t-shirt, and the other items that make up her #obsixed list of 6 current obsessions. Discover more + Shop The Podcast:Watch When You Finish Saving The World on Prime VideoWatch 13 Reasons Why on Netflixfollow @storyandraintalks on instagram for our very latest drops + more pod content HERE | follow @storyandrain magazine on instagram HERE | follow our host + founder @tamarararappa HERE | discover, read, shop: fashion, beauty, wellness, tv + film, food, travel, interviews, + more on storyandrain.com

Netflix's Ginny + Georgia has been viewed a total of over 504 million hours, and at the crux of all that success, is actress Brianne Howey, who delivers a one-of-kind, head-turning performance as Georgia Miller, the sweet cherry on top of this two-season-to-date series that is defying demographics. Since appearing in Fox's The Passage, Hulu's Dollface, The CW's Batwoman, Showtime's I'm Dying Up Here, Horrible Bosses, and more, Howey was meant for the role of Georgia: single mother with a deeply dark past, abundance of personality, endless energy, slew of survival skills, back pocket wit, gorgeous smile and spot-on Southern drawl that has people believing it's her own. (It's not). On episode 126 we go behind the scenes with Brianne to talk about ALL the Ginny + Georgia things. We discuss Georgia's "performative" personality and powerful voice, what makes her character one that's filled with the kind of contrasting traits that makes fans of all kinds fall in love with her,  and those "sticky subjects" and "social and cultural blinders" her character is known for. We talk her beloved relationship with her co-star Antonia. Then there are the details of the show's idyllic town, inclusive cast of characters, and serious subject matter--- all served alongside a serious dose of humor---that Brianne gives backstory to. She shares how cast, crew, and creators feel and first felt while making Ginny + Georgia, how it's touched lives, and the the two important entities the show relies upon in order to tell their stories responsibly.  We get into Ginny + Georgia's secret sauce, how Brianne transitions in and out of her sometimes "exhausting" character, how she landed the part just as her husband was about to propose, and working on a show she pridefully deems  "art and argument". We head back to childhood and early years, when she favored the stage while her siblings favored sports, her time as an acting student in New York City, how television inspires her, how reading grounds her, and we of course get into a list of some of her most favorite things. Discover more + Shop The Podcast:Watch Ginny + Georgia on NetflixRead The New Wilderness by Diane CookRoses candle by DiptqueCandles by Le LaboCandles by Salt + StoneWatch Amazon's Good Night OppyListen to Etta JamesListen to Otis Reddingfollow @storyandraintalks on instagram for our very latest drops + more pod content HERE | follow @storyandrain magazine on instagram HERE | follow our host + founder @tamarararappa HERE | discover, read, shop: fashion, beauty, wellness, tv + film, food, travel, interviews, + more on storyandrain.com

Over many years, actor, poet, playwright, writer, producer, director, activist, and Tony Award-winner Sarah Jones would contribute her powerful perspective to culture, ultimately birthing what would become her one-of-a-kind brand with a message. Influenced by growing up in Queens, her time as a downtown New York slam poet, and more, Sarah is known for her multi-character, one-person shows, the Broadway hit Bridge + Tunnel, and the critically-acclaimed play, Sell/Buy/Date. She's given multiple TED Talks, performed for the Obama's, and at the World Economic Forum. She recently launched social justice-focused, Foment Productions, and recently acted in Broad City, Noah Baumbach's Oscar-winning film Marriage Story, and in Julie Delpy's series for Netflix, On The Verge. On the podcast Sarah discusses deepening the alignment in her values, and working with artists whom she truly believes in. Given the much deserved title of "master' of her genre by none other than The New York Times, Sarah just made her debut as film director, with her documentary Sell/Buy/Date, in which she, of course, also stars...as herself, and as a handful of the diverse signature characters she's known for. On episode 125 of the podcast we get into ALL of it. In a delicate symphony of self expression, self exploration, cultural and individual life experience, Sell/Buy/Date doc, an 'Unorthodoc' , as she calls it, dances between deeply honest and organic discussions with those in and around the sex industry, intimate friendships with familiar faces like Ilana Glazer, Rosario Dawson, and Bryan Cranston, the Greek-chorus commentary and comedy of her characters, and a very personal peek offstage and into Sarah's own life and family. We talk about the night that Sell/Buy/Date the play went from being performed in her living room to its very first audience, the major backlash that turned what would have been her movie into an exploratory documentary, how exactly her hybrid film was made, how she voices her characters, how and when they took shape, and the way in which she introduces new ones...and doesn't. We discuss the origins of her activism, how she prepares for her multifaceted performance style, being an 'HSP', and how putting self care first helps her art. Sarah and Tamara share stories about the United Nations International School, where they met as students, what makes it such a unique place, and how it's informed a lot of Sarah's work, as an artist and as an activist. Be prepared to laugh! You'll hear Sarah share her thoughts and her story in at least seven other accents, and as at least seven other people. We talk about what stokes her drive to give back, teaching poetry on Rikers Island, and that time she was the first artist ever to sue the FCC for censorship. Discover more + Shop The Podcast:Sarah Jones WebsiteWatch Sell/Buy/Date on Prime VideoClare V.  for elevated casualCaddis Birdcage GlassesRebecca Nadler Designs rings + jewelryCharlotte Tilbury Lipstick in Pillow Talkfollow @storyandraintalks on instagram for our very latest drops + more pod content HERE | follow @storyandrain magazine on instagram HERE | follow our host + founder @tamarararappa HERE | discover, read, shop: fashion, beauty, wellness, tv + film, food, travel, interviews, + more on storyandrain.com

We sat down with cover star Gretchen Mol for this week's podcast. An actor since the mid 90's, Gretchen's choices reflect taste and a certain sensibility, audiences have fallen in love with the characters she's played. Think The Notorious Bettie Page and Boardwalk Empire's Gillian, whom she returns to frequently in her own personal life, and you'll hear why. Her latest character is Michelle, in Showtime's series remake of the iconic 1980 film American Gigolo, a riveting must-watch. She plays her complex character so beautifully, the audience left wanting so much more from her. On the podcast, we talk about everything from why Michelle was so difficult “to be in”, as Gretchen describes, to some very interesting behind the scenes details about her character's physical appearance. We discuss all the things that have made up Gretchen's rich, well-balanced career, tracing back to her beginning, in acting school, and working at Angelika Film Center alongside her brother and the musician Maxwell. We talk her stint as a jazz club MC, New York City roots, and what she misses about the acting scene of a certain era. We talk the shifts in tv and film, why theater is important for all actors, what saying no to a certain role taught her about setting boundaries, working with visionary directors, having a creative life partner, and being surrounded by creative people. There's some great favorite things, of course, what she's in the midst of designing, the actors she most enjoys watching most, some valuable advice for actors who could use a little emotional support, and more.  Discover more + Shop The Podcast: American Gigolo on ShowtimeWatch Gretchen Mol tv + film on Prime VideoBoardwalk Empire, all five seasonsThe Notorious Bettie PageJoanna Vargas Eden Rejuvenating Pro SerumThe New Yorker Book of Cartoon Puzzles + Gamesfollow @storyandraintalks on instagram for our very latest drops + more pod content HERE | follow @storyandrain magazine on instagram HERE | follow our host + founder @tamarararappa HERE | discover, read, shop: fashion, beauty, wellness, tv + film, food, travel, interviews, + more on storyandrain.com

This week's podcast is many things. Much of it traces the dramatic details of shoe designer George Esquivel's remarkable and inspiring life. Growing up in seedy motels, surrounded by drugs and violence, and with a father tied to a life of crime, some chance encounters greatly impacted the course and purpose of George's life, a life that would go on to be grounded in ingenuity and authenticity, and the tireless pursuit of creativity and learning. Listen in to discover how making a pair of shoes on a trip to Mexico turned into 2000 pair produced in a garage, and the chance to contribute to Gwen Stefani's iconic stage costumes. Since his start, George has designed for many more celebrities, including Jenelle Monae, Brad Pitt, and Madonna, and on this podcast he shares the key to those relationships that he holds so sacred. You'll hear all about his supremely unique vision and process, how he works with private clients and retailers, and the many people and brands he's worked with over the years. From Tommy Hilfiger and Anna Wintour, to Chloe and Tumi and more, George gets candid about what it's like to create both for your own brand, and also for others. He shares advice and the way in which he perceives and truly lives his brand identity. We discuss his greatest hits like Tumi's X bag and Accent Kit and his Fratelli Rosetti J. Crew loafer that Jenna Lyons still sports today. We get into creative spaces and personal style, and his downtown LA atelier and signature candle. He shares his favorites pieces from his own collection, the six things he's loving right now, and we talk the magic of Harry Styles. Recalling the love and kindness of strangers experienced in his own early life, George gets specific about his charity efforts and Esquivel X Collection. It's an honor to share George's perspective and entrepreneurial story, so happy to do so, especially at this time of year, as people reflect on the year gone by, when people might need a little lift into the next one, because it offers strength, hope, motivation, and most importantly, a message of kindness and gratitude. Here's the amazing story of George Esquivel, a talented designer determined to move forward as a maker, at one point, against all the odds. Discover more + Shop The Podcast:GeorgeEsquivel.comGive back with Esquivel XTutima + Esquivel watchNick Fouquet hatsfollow @storyandraintalks on instagram for our very latest drops + more pod content HERE | follow @storyandrain magazine on instagram HERE | follow our host + founder @tamarararappa HERE | discover, read, shop: fashion, beauty, wellness, tv + film, food, travel, interviews, + more on storyandrain.com

One of our very favorite actors is Genevieve Angelson, for the passion and intelligence she brings to her work. Versatile Genevieve was once identified by her manager as someone who could play a doctor masterfully, and this year she did just that, as head of holistic medicine, Dr. Mia Castries, on NBC's New Amsterdam. Most recently, Angelson can be seen as Alanis Wheeler on Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale. Sitting down for episode 122 of the podcast, the New York City native was dressed in a jacket joyfully snagged from set, in Gilead's signature green; listen in to the actor, who skillfully paints a picture of her craft, share details for how she approached playing this season's key character, how costumes played a part...and she also dishes details behind the scenes on the beloved, critically-acclaimed series. We discuss Genevieve's path from Upper East Side prep school Brearley to Wesleyan, to Tisch, to the stage, to tv and film, and the limiting self-beliefs she ultimately broke free from during her last year in college, causing her to attack her pursuit of acting voraciously. We talk co-workers and mentors, her bicoastal  identities and lifestyle, and her tribe, and how writing is fulfilling to her. We discuss the challenges of downtime, her best role to date, and how she chooses and refuses projects. We talk about her role in Apple TV+'s The Afterparty and how she created her character, Indigo. We get into Amazon's Flack, playing opposite Anna Paquin, and how she will always make time to do theater. We discuss her feelings about the inherent lack of control in role portrayal in tv and film versus the stage. We talk about The Handmaid's Tale's themes of childbirth and fertility, including the diverse fan reaction to the show's hot button topic. We talk about what it's like to work with an intimacy coach, for upcoming film Which Brings Me To You, and what to expect from that project. We talk the industry post Me Too, and the origins of her activism and why it's so important to her. We get into what's been rewarding, Christmas trees in October, learning new things for growth and fulfillment, who she's dying to play, and so much more, along with some savvy advice for actors starting out. It's a gorgeously honest and robust conversation with one of the most delightful and talented people, one who is destined for so much great work ahead. Discover more + Shop The Podcast: Handmaid's Tale Season 5 on HuluThe Afterparty on Apple TV+Flack on Amazon PrimeOversized blazers from SandroChristmas Trees in OctoberSomatic healing with Been Caught Healingfollow @storyandraintalks on instagram for our very latest drops + more pod content HERE | follow @storyandrain magazine on instagram HERE | follow our host + founder @tamarararappa HERE | discover, read, shop: fashion, beauty, wellness, tv + film, food, travel, interviews, + more on storyandrain.com

It's a great time of year to remain cognizant of personal wellness, and this week we're doing just that with health coach, plant-based cook, Instagram pioneer, and Co-Founder of Clean Market, Lily Kunin Doran. Lily turned heads in the early days of Instagram with her gorgeous and healthy, rainbow-bright smoothie bowls. On episode 121, we go back to that time, and to all that went viral and why. We talk about the relationship that Lily forged with beauty and wellness legend and our episode 47 podcast guest, Bobbi Brown. We get into all things Lily's cookbook, Good Clean Food, including the mask recipe included in its pages that she still relies upon today. We discuss her current self care habits and diet, and how those have evolved over the years and since co-founding Clean Market, wellness spaces filled with a truly unique combination of doctor-led treatments from IV drips to lymphatic massage and more, along with a carefully hand picked, best-in-class retail curation by Lily. She brings us to the beginning of her story and how her upbringing along with some personal physical struggles sparked her quest for better health. We get into detail about exactly how cooking at home turned into a social media pursuit, how she cooks and entertains today, her approach to work and to exercise, and how she creates work-life balance. Lastly, Lily fills us in on what's next, including her idea for a new book that's brewing involving children, and more treatments at Clean Market. Lily shares her secrets for good clean skin, what she's reading, wearing, and more. Discover more + Shop The Podcast:Clean MarketGood Clean Food by Lily KuninStarling JewelryMarie Veronique C-Therapy SerumMarie Veronique Barrier Restore SerumMarie Veronique Soothing B3 SerumTaking Charge Of Your Fertility by Toni WeschlerMoon Juice SuperYou Daily Stress Management Capsulesfollow @storyandraintalks on instagram for our very latest drops + more pod content HERE | follow @storyandrain magazine on instagram HERE | follow our host + founder @tamarararappa HERE | discover, read, shop: fashion, beauty, wellness, tv + film, food, travel, interviews, + more on storyandrain.com