Podcasts about Fifth Avenue

Cozy neighborhood pubs are the ideal gathering spots for conversation and advice. Ernie's makes the Midtown District of Rockford, Illinois that ideal place. Located at Fifth Avenue and Seventh Street.Recorded January 20, 2026.

After rebuilding her life from divorce and financial uncertainty, Pav Lertjitbanjong shares why job security is often an illusion—and what actually creates peace of mind. In this conversation, Pav explains how becoming layoff ready is about strategically creating options for yourself before you're forced to make a change. She breaks down the three numbers that bring clarity to financial decisions and why waiting for security keeps people stuck. This episode is a grounded look at what it really means to layoff-proof your life. If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to LesleyLogan.co/podcast https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/. If you have any comments or questions about the Be It pod shoot us a message at beit@lesleylogan.co mailto:beit@lesleylogan.co. And as always, if you're enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at LesleyLogan.co/subscribe https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/#follow-subscribe-free.In this episode you will learn about:How Pav found clarity after emotional overwhelm.Pav's own strategic approach to paying off her debt.What layoff proofing your life truly means for your future.Why job security is an illusion but career resilience is not.Three numbers everyone needs to feel financially prepared.Episode References/Links:Pav Lertjitbanjong's Website - https://www.pavness.comPav Lertjitbanjong's Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@momentsofresetPavness YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@PavnessLabPav Lertjitbanjong's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pavnesslabGuest Bio:Pav Lertjitbanjong is a marketing and brand strategist with more than two decades of experience leading strategy for global, billion-dollar brands. She is the creator of PAVNESS, a framework designed to help high-achieving individuals navigate major life transitions with clarity, courage, and intention. Known for turning complex strategy into clear, human-centered stories, Pav's work lives at the intersection of brand positioning, personal reinvention, and meaningful messaging. Her approach is shaped not just by her professional background, but by her own experience rebuilding her life through uncertainty and change. Pav believes true success is not defined by titles, revenue, or external validation, but by alignment and the confidence to be fully seen. Today, she helps leaders and creators reconnect with who they are becoming—both in business and in life. Her story is a reminder that clarity comes from honesty, and bold moves often begin quietly. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox. https://lovethepodcast.com/BITYSIDEALS! 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So now I teach people how to take control of their money and rebound from any situation without overwhelm.Lesley Logan 0:22  Welcome to the Be It Till You See It podcast where we talk about taking messy action, knowing that perfect is boring. I'm Lesley Logan, Pilates instructor and fitness business coach. I've trained thousands of people around the world and the number one thing I see stopping people from achieving anything is self-doubt. My friends, action brings clarity and it's the antidote to fear. Each week, my guest will bring bold, executable, intrinsic and targeted steps that you can use to put yourself first and Be It Till You See It. It's a practice, not a perfect. Let's get started. Lesley Logan 1:05  All right, Be It babe, this is a interesting conversation you're about to hear, because I really was super intrigued by our guests today. I got to meet them several months ago, talk about what they're excited to do. They have actually been a listener of the Be It Pod for a really long time. They've been being it till they see it. And that's literally why they are sharing what they're doing right now. And so I'm super excited for you to hear about Pav and being layoff, layoff ready, right? And I think that's you might be thinking, wow, aren't talking about laying on, getting laid off? You guys, we have to. We have to. Some of you in your be it till you see it might have to be laid off, or might get laid off, or might want to be laid off. So, so I think this is a really cool conversation of like preparedness and also, like honesty about what is life? What is the life we want? Like, have we been honest with ourselves? And when I got off the comic path, we talked about confidence a little bit, and so it wasn't recorded. So I kind of want to just like, bring this in and then I want to you to hear this amazing episode from Pav and hear her journey, and hear what she's doing here, so she's helping people, because I think a lot of people are going to need, like, layoff proof their life. So, confidence, you guys, confidence, isn't something you are deemed with. No one gives it to you. It's also not something you go and get. Confidence comes from doing the thing you said you do. So every time you tell yourself you're gonna go for a walk around the block, and then you postpone it to like answer an email, you are actually etching away at your confidence. But if you go and do the walk, then you are increasing your confidence strength. A lot of people think, oh, once I'm more confident, then I will do X. No, do X, and you will become more confident, right? So with that said, thank you, Pav, for that wonderful question. I'm so sorry you guys, wasn't recorded. I hope that little tidbit gets you there, and here's Pav and Layoff Ready. Lesley Logan 3:02  All right, Be It babe, I'm excited, today's topic, I think maybe we've touched on it a little bit in people's stories, but never had like, someone who's expert at it, someone who's, like, truly been through the trenches and come on the other side, and like, has expertise to share with you, and like skill sets and all those things also probably one of the coolest Be It actions I've ever seen someone do. I hope we get into it as well. Pav, you're our guest today, can you tell everyone who you are and what you're rocking at? Pav Lertjitbanjong 3:29  Yes. Hi Lesley, thank you so much for having me. It's been an honor to be here. So I am Pav Lertjitbanjong. I'm the founder of Layoff Ready and a financial resilience mentor. So basically, what I do is I help professionals to help build income security and freedom. And, you know, before that, I was working in corporate, just like most people, and realized that, you know, finally it's the matrix that we kind of, like, you know, onto, like, this hamster wheel, and had this moment and eventually got out of it. So yeah, and I rebuilt my life after divorce, and basically, kind of left me completely shattered financially and emotionally, but I learned how to layoff proof my life, and now I'm, you know, quitting my job and retiring from corporate at 43 years old. So now I teach people how to take control of their money and and, you know, rebound from any situation without overwhelm and fluff.Lesley Logan 4:27  Oh, I love this. First of all, 43 and you're, like, retired. I think you had all of us. I mean, clearly you're working, you create your own thing, but like, you're retired from corporate life. Like, I think a lot of ears perked up, because that's not the option for a lot of people. I do want to take a step back, because I do love that you shared that like you have gone through divorce, you have had to pick up yourself and put all the pieces back together and start over, like a lot of people listening to the show, you know? I mean, I hope we have some Gen Z, but most likely, most of them are a little they're over 40, and we have been. And through things in life, and sometimes we can take it really personally and think there's something wrong with us. How can we go back in time a little bit like, how did you pick the pieces up after divorce? Like, what? What did you do to even get yourself to a place? Because I can't, unless your divorce was 20 years ago, it feels like this all happened very quickly, that you went from divorced and broke to, like, retiring from corporate. Pav Lertjitbanjong 5:22  Yeah and Lesley, thank you so much for asking me this question, and it's the one that I've kind of like pondered for so long, because, you know, like, when we've been through like, such dramatic situation like this, right? Like we don't usually reflect on the lessons that we typically learn from so I thought about that. So basically, okay, let me just maybe backward on, like, okay, my divorce situation. So I've been married for about seven years, and then, you know, things didn't work out. I think part of this now that I have, like, my renewed faith in in God and, you know, the universe, I believe that if you are onto the path that God is not blessing you, that is not your true calling, he will destroy that path. And that resulted into my divorce. And so the moment that I gathered courage to okay, say to myself that okay, I cannot be in this situation anymore. I need to really do something, or I'm gonna spend the rest of my life, you know, crying about it for the life that I have not lived. And just like what you always say, you know, we do it messy, and we, right? Lesley Logan 6:36  Yeah. Life is messy. It's, you can't like it can't not be, you know, like, one of my dear, my first assistants was a doula. She's like, birth is really messy. Pav Lertjitbanjong 6:48  Yeah. But, you know, I think, like, once you focus on something, and then you surrender to God, he will lead the way. That's what I've that I've believed in. So, you know, with my with my divorce, in order for me to get them to get a divorce, the first step, my lawyer said, Okay, you need to get your baseline ready. You need to do budgeting. And I'm like, okay, with an MBA in finance, I didn't know how to do budgeting, which was like, so crazy. And I'll tell you this, like with Layoff Ready, I have worked with some of the clients that are, like, higher up in corporate, and they are the same, I think, like, the higher up you are, you rely so much on like, so called experts to help with your personal life, life, right? Like, because you are so good at what you do, so you don't really, yeah, you you neglect what you need to do for yourself, because you just totally trust experts. And that's kind of how I've always been. So I had to start from the ground up in terms of, okay, like, what exactly is my net worth without my husband or ex husband now? And it took me six months Lesley, not because it was hard in the sense that, like, oh, all the calculation, because I'm like, a number person anyway, but the six months to actually feel the feelings, right? Like, really, gather all the documents and really, okay, this is it. You know, once I submit that paperwork, once I file this, then that's the beginning of the new life unknown.Lesley Logan 8:20  Thank you for sharing that. I think a lot of people don't do things because it really does mean by finishing it, it marks the end, like, that's the end of that, you know, like, whether it's a person who's passed away or a pet that's passed away, like, dealing with the their toys and the dog beds, whatever it is, like, once it's gone, it's like, well, they're really gone. Like, there's not even a sign of them around here. So like going through and figuring it out, like I can see why you would want to take six months, not because the numbers are hard, but because it's hard. It's just hard. Yeah.Pav Lertjitbanjong 8:49  Exactly, Lesley. And I mean, when you talk about pets, you know, I've been through that same situation too, and I am a procrastinator, and that's my new year resolution, which I'm kind of, like slowly getting there. Same thing, like, when, when my two, my two rabbits died from that marriage, you know, they came with me. It also took me six months to, like, clean up everything.Lesley Logan 9:12  Yeah, because it was, like, the last, you know, like the last thing of that, yeah. Well, so, okay, so during the six months, did you do anything to kind of help yourself out? Did you go did you stay home and, like, wallow? Did you go out? Like, how did you, like, take care of yourself and get to know yourself? Was there anything, any Be It Action Items that you did in there? Pav Lertjitbanjong 9:32  Oh my gosh, okay. Like, shamelessly saying, I did absolutely nothing, just like, wallowing, you know, being in, like, my shoe box apartment in New York City, because at the time, I already moved out of my my house, and I didn't really have much in savings at the time, because basically, when you're married, then, you know, things are kind of commingled in a way. So not so much. You know, that was probably one of the darkest time of my life. And you know, back to like what I did, and what did I learn from that, from from like, the whole process was that the power of budgeting that's so important. And let me just tell you this, Lesley, so after that six months, I decided, okay, like, I need to do something. I I'm gonna file that paper and get that budgeting done. Took me one day. Lesley Logan 10:20  Right. Pav Lertjitbanjong 10:21  One day. Lesley Logan 10:22  Right, I know it's really funny, isn't it so funny? Like, I think we can all, like, see ourselves in this I'm like, oh my god, I gotta write that email, or I gotta go to that thing. I gotta go, and then you go it was like, 17 minutes at the DMV that wasn't even that part. Like, it just feels so heavy. Yes, I understand. I understand. Pav Lertjitbanjong 10:38  Yeah. So it took me one day of focus work to get that going and everything. And to my surprise, when, like, back to when we're talking about, like, you know, when we surrender to God, God actually, like, help pave the way for you and I found almost half a million dollars in a hidden 401k account. Lesley Logan 10:59  That's half a million dollars? Pav Lertjitbanjong 11:01  Almost, close to, yeah. Lesley Logan 11:02  Oh my god. Pav Lertjitbanjong 11:04  So when you talk about save it and you forget it, I literally forgotten that. And no joke, like, serious, and.Lesley Logan 11:13  That's, Pav, that's insane. So, like, here you were, like, broke as a joke on a tiny apartment. Procrastinate. I just want to, like, reiterate this so that people, like, stop procrastinating, procrastinating and wallowing all these things. Then you do the paperwork and you have a half a million dollars.Pav Lertjitbanjong 11:30  Yes, close enough. So, so yeah, like, my life literally just kind of changed overnight, you know, with that one power of budgeting. Lesley Logan 11:39  And by then you'd learn how to budget. So that's great. So probably best, probably best. You had to learn how to budget first.Pav Lertjitbanjong 11:46  Exactly, exactly. Yeah. So that was basically like my moment that, you know, my whole life, Lesley, like okay as a woman, and actually not all women, but maybe like the way that I was raised, I always thought that, okay, the only way for me to become a millionaire, to become financially free, I need security of a man to help me.Lesley Logan 12:10  Oh, you're, I mean, I think, first of all, so in the States, women couldn't get their own credit card until, like, their 80s, 1980s right? So, like, like, in my lifetime, right? And I think I can't remember when women were allowed to buy their own homes, but at any the reason why, like, people are always like, oh, there's so much divorce now there's, no, women couldn't leave shitty shit because they couldn't own a home, they couldn't often find work, and they certainly couldn't have a credit card. So like, yeah, Pav, like, we're of the age where, like my mom, like her mom, couldn't, didn't have a credit card when she was of her own right. So my mom is the first person in my family that could have her own money. So I think a lot of us have that, that we're not raised with that. And so what you see around you, because that first generation above you, they all had to go through that. That's how they were raised. So it's completely normal to think that. And I think what's really cool is we've now had 40 something years of it. So it can change where we we all can be billionaires, and then we can marry someone, whether it's a man or woman who also is a millionaire, and then we can have more money that we can do good things with.Pav Lertjitbanjong 13:13  Yes, the more the merrier, Lesley, yeah, and I think, like to your point, basically, I think what went through with my life, even though I suffer for a long period of time, I felt that it actually was proud of myself that I was able to help, like, break the generational curse, you know, because that were, like, what you talked about, you know, like there were women that didn't really have those opportunities.Lesley Logan 13:40  No, and they weren't loved either, like, not for who they were, yeah, my gosh, Pav. So you get to this place where, like, oh my gosh. Now you're not devastated. I mean, you're devastated from the divorce emotionally, but you're not devastated financially. You have, you have a jumping off point. So can we, can we jump ahead to like, how do you go from like, okay, I am now I'm gonna go now I have a half million dollars. It's not enough to like, retire off of today. But how do you go from that to like, I'm gonna help people be layoff ready? Because one of the things that, like, I feel is so topical. We talked about this before I hit record, it's like, there's a lot of people being laid off right now, and with AI, which has its own devastating effects and also great things. We use AI all the time, like, there's going to be more. And so I think, like, you know, in case, in case, someone can't just randomly find an old 401K they forgot about, how do we prepare them?Pav Lertjitbanjong 14:33  Yeah, okay, so you have asked so many amazing questions. So like, let me break it down. So like, number one you were asking about, like, okay, how did they kind of jump start from like, okay, that's aha, moment that okay, finally, it can be my own rich man, or at least the starting point until, like, okay, helping people, right? So I think, like, ever since then, I realized that okay, now I can be my own rich man, that I cannot rely on the security of a man to. Lesley Logan 15:00  No, you don't have to. Pav Lertjitbanjong 15:00  For anything, right? Even though, like, okay, great, we, we would love to find my soulmate. I mean, our soulmate, and I'd love to have a rich husband again, but you're not better version. But, yeah. But I think ever since then, I realized the power of financial literacy and, you know, really becoming my own person, because I always had low self-esteem, Lesley, you know, I think it's just kind of like what we talk about, the general generational curse. So anyway, since then, I started, like, okay, studying investing, personal finance, you know, make sure that okay. Like, by the way, I don't think that I dropped that bomb on you yet. But I also, like, with that marriage, I had about $100,000 debt. So with the money that I found, even though I had the 401K, you cannot liquidate the whole thing, right? Because you pay so much taxes. Lesley Logan 15:52  There's rules. Pav Lertjitbanjong 15:53  Yeah, exactly. Like, like, it's your money, but it's not your money. Lesley Logan 15:58  Right, right, right, right. Pav Lertjitbanjong 15:59  Yeah. So okay, so I had to find a way to, like, supplement that. How can I make more money? So, like, one is okay, I already have a corporate job. It's good paying, but obviously it didn't really help fund my entire lifestyle because, like, I used to live large, but now on my own, I need to, like, okay, number one, downsize my life a little bit more. You know, like, I can't really go to, like, three Michelin star on a Friday, you know, if I want to, these days, you know, something that you have to, like, really plan on. And then, let me forewarn you, it doesn't apply to everyone, but for me, I actually strategically leverage debt to help me pay debt.Lesley Logan 16:38  Yeah, heck yeah, girl, are you, I haven't had one come in the mail, but I definitely when I was like, getting out of homelessness and getting back on my feet, I was like, oh, this card will let me be interest-free for 18 months. Heck yeah. We're taking this card move all this debt over, so now I'm actually paying it off, and now I have 18 months to pay this off. Yes, yes, I hear you. I, there's, but there, because there is better, there is better debt out there. Yes, for sure.Pav Lertjitbanjong 17:06  Exactly, yeah. So free money. So one thing led to another, I was and then Covid happened. You know when people talk about and okay, like, let me just be clear, Covid totally suck. Like, that should not happen, but for me, I was lucky, in a sense that okay, during Covid, you know, I got to work from home. You know, as a tech worker, you get to work from home, and I had a little bit time, you know, like during, like, early hour, because I work West Coast hour before to really do a little bit of day trading, you know, like, maybe the first two, three hours after the market stopped before I actually work my real job, and I got lucky, I was able to buy at the lowest, probably, and it kind of bounced from there.Lesley Logan 17:52  Yeah, that's what you're I mean, like, when everything was going crazy recently and going low, like our neighbors like this, I'm like, I'm not even looking. I'm literally giving them more money. I'm gonna give my people more money to go play in the other places that it's gonna be good. Like, obviously, to avoid these but, like, we'd be smart about it. But like, this is how people got rich in the Depression. You gotta buy when it's low and during those Covid times, good for you. You know what I'm hearing from you Pav is, like, you're not afraid to do something that is a little scary, and you're not waiting for someone to tell you it's okay. Like, that's pretty badass.Pav Lertjitbanjong 18:27  I've not always been that way, Lesley, but thank you. It's an honor hearing that from you. Lesley Logan 18:33  Well, I mean, clearly the, maybe it's the divorce that, like, made made you that way. You know what I mean? Because I think sometimes we go through hard things, we're like, whoa. Like you develop a skill set because you need to, you know, so, like, I think that's really cool. Pav Lertjitbanjong 18:45  Thank you. Yeah, and I think, like, the most important things, actually two things that I was able to gain from the divorce, not just, like, the money part, which that is great, right? Like, with investing, one thing led to another. I was able to, like, you know, make a lot more money from there. And by the way, I got a promotion after, you know, when I decided, okay, like, I need to make more. You know, the Power Focus is when you focusing on something like it actually happened, because God was just like, make sure that he orchestrate everything for you.Lesley Logan 19:17  Well, also you're putting yourself out there, and you and you said the right words, focus. I think a lot of people go, I don't have this, as opposed to, where can I get this? You know, like, you're like, I need to make more money. What's in front of me? And so I think that that's a really important distinction, because a lot of people like, I have no money, and they sit around going wallowing, I don't have any money, I'm having and they're like, look, there are days for crying, like you are going through a divorce, there's a few. You should have a few fuck, fucking crying days on the floor. But then you have to, like, get up and go, okay, what do I want? What can I do with what I have? And so I love the like, I'm gonna put in for a promotion. Like you don't get a promotion if you're not ready for it. Like no one's doing in corporate., as a woman, no, you had to earn that so, like, I mean, like, I'm sure there's not all corporations do that, but like, let's be real. Like, a lot of them, you have to prove that you are more than qualified for that job. So way to go.Pav Lertjitbanjong 20:12  Yeah, thank you. And by the way, to add on top of that, like, when you were talking about, if you don't ask, you don't receive. Like, that's so true, because, like, I had a co worker I came to and I asked her, like, hey, I want to put you on a promotion list, you know, as an endorser for this quarter. And she's like, oh, thank you. I really appreciate that. But, you know, I am like, I think I thought it was due to for promotion, like, last year. I'm like, well, have you ever asked for it? No. Like, if you never ask, you never get it. You don't get it.Lesley Logan 20:43  Oh that is, you know, it's unfortunate, but like, it's true, like, a lot of people get places because they just asked, you know, like, there's even just some opportunities that I have had because I just asked, not because I was qualified, you know, I mean, I had to be qualified enough. But, you know, like, sometimes it's just like, who, you know, so, or what, who, whom you ask. So, I love that. So, okay, so you got a promotion, you play the stock market, and then were you like, were you always thinking about, okay, I can't wait. Like, I want to retire from corporate early. Was that like the plan? How did, how did you go from like, getting promotion, working corporate and day trading, to going, okay, I'm gonna help people prepare their lives for a big change, like a change outside their control, because that's what Layoff Ready is. It's like you're ready if a change outside of your control happens.Pav Lertjitbanjong 21:32  Right. Yeah, Lesley, and that's such a great question, and to be honest with you, like I've always had in my mind that I want to retire early, because ever since I was young, I always knew that, like, this is not it, like my life should not be in PowerPoint and, you know, be a corporate robot. And even though, like, let me just tell you, I know, like some people talk about, like, burnout, or, you know, like, how they've been treated badly by their companies, I feel very fortunate, like my career so far in general, that I have been treated very well for the most part, and I'm really, really, really grateful for that. But I think I've always, like, had that goal that I wanted to be able to retire, like, before 45 or like 50, you know, and really do my own thing and live my life. But let me just tell you I never had that courage, too. So when you told me about, like, hey, Pav, you're a badass, you know, thank you. I can confidently say that yes, Lesley, today's Pav says yes, I am a badass. But like, maybe, like, two months ago Pav, or maybe, like, whatever, you know, 40 years old Pav will not be that. Lesley Logan 22:38  I think it takes time to realize, like somebody in one of our communities, just like, mentioned, like, something happened that four years ago, right? And I was like, and it's so easy to go, oh my god, it's been four years, like, as a long time, and then it's like, it's only been four years, like, I can't believe how, like, what you've done in like, such a short time. So, like, it's, of course, like you recognizing your boldness and your badassery, like, in the last couple of months versus three years, like, there's, I don't think that's even you don't have to just, you can act that's fine. That's exactly when you found it, you discovered it. And I think that's important because, like, there's going to be days we don't feel like that. But also we have to look back and go, whoa look what I did in such a short period of time, you know, like, a short period of time, like, that's kind of a lot of growth. So let's talk about Layoff Ready a little bit, because I think a lot of people think it won't happen to them. Oh, it's gonna happen to that person, but I'm really great at my job, or I'm, you know what I mean, like, I'm really excellent at this. Like, what are some things people need to be thinking about, or just, like, reviewing, you know, because it's gonna take them a couple weeks that they should be looking into to make sure that they're layoff ready. Like, what are some signs, or what are some actions? Pav Lertjitbanjong 23:47  Yeah, so first, and thank you for asking Lesley. So Layoff Ready is a freedom-based financial preparation. So it's not just like, oh, you know, like, hey, this is like, your investment advisor telling you to like, okay, this is how you allocate your your investment so on, right? But this is more about like, how can you really design a life that you really want to live in, you know? So to to decide a life that give you the option for freedom if you want to, it's not about like, hey, you know, tomorrow, or everybody goes and go into the office and like, hey, I want to quit my job because I'm layoff ready? Some people, maybe you really love the job that you're doing. But you know, like, what you touch on is, with this economy, is your job really safe? Not really, with AI rising, I don't think that anybody is safe, right? Like, for God's sake, people been talking about what like by 2032 we may not even like have jobs the way that we see it.Lesley Logan 24:47  Oh yeah, I think, and that's 2032 that is, that is a very short time away. It is seven years like I'm an optimistic person most of the time, and when I think about what AI is going to do, I. I think about like, it's not going to be great for everybody. It's going to be great for those who can use it. It's not going to be great for everybody. So I do think that like preparing ourselves to understand, like, what, what is a life we want to live. And I love that, like going through that so that no matter if you choose it or it chooses you, you can be, you can be, you know, you'll still cry, but you can have a next step.Pav Lertjitbanjong 25:24  Exactly, yeah, and I think, like, you know, it's also beyond, like, the financial preparedness or the career preparedness, but like, the emotional clarity and preparedness that comes with that, right? Like, basically, it gives you an option to be able to walk away from a situation or a job or even like people, or like, in my case, like a marriage that no longer align with with you, with your goal in life. And so for me, I think layoff ready, layoff proofing your life is about like, you know, being like, strategically creating options for yourself so you never feel stuck. Like, you don't wait for security, you create it, and you build the skills and the incomes before you need them. And you also, like, you know, help you stay adaptable, knowing that job security is an illusion, but the career resilience is real, and that's what I think is so critical these days.Lesley Logan 26:20  So many takeaways. But like, we don't wait for security. We create security like that, that is key, Pav, that is like, I think a lot of people have a false security with their gigs, with their jobs, you know. And I think also, you know, the way the world works, it gives them that false security. Like took my husband and I over two years to prove to the powers that be that we could afford a home, because we don't work for anybody but ourselves. Never mind that ourselves have made more money year after year. You know, like every tax season, you can see that where our company is growing, they're like, oh, but you work for yourself. No, that's not trustworthy. Well, I'm not gonna fire me. So like, feels pretty secure, if you ask me. But like, I think it's like creating that security and creating the things around your life. You know, when we were talking about Covid, like, which was terrible, yes, yes, yes. But let's talk about this. The good thing is that came as a lot of people evaluated what they were doing and what they wanted and what they needed, because they were laid off, you know, they were forced to do it in a way. But like with what you're doing with people now is like actually helping them decide it ahead of times they have to leave, right? Like they're not, you're not necessarily encouraging them to leave, but you're just helping them create the ability to have a decision.Pav Lertjitbanjong 27:40  Exactly, yeah, and, and I also think that when you layoff-proof your life, it not like, not only it just gives you options, but it actually gives you peace of mind as well. And I think, like, in this day and age, especially at our age now, it's, it's the most important. I think, like, it's like, way more important, even beyond, like, money or success.Lesley Logan 28:03  Yeah, yeah, no. I mean, I agree. Like, you know, they say, like, we have six, there's six needs we all have universally. So certainty is one of them. And like, we all crave it, right? Like, craving that certainty, like, the job is going to be there, the money is going to be there. But we also crave uncertainty. We want things to change, right? But what you're talking about and what you've promoted yourself to doing you retired from corporate to do this with people is like, help them be able to make a decision for themselves and have certainty around it.Pav Lertjitbanjong 28:40  Right, yeah. And I think one, one important thing too, Lesley, that I feel like we have been lied to, is I don't think that we need that much in life in general, like in this capitalism society, like, do we need, like, you know, 10 handbags or.Lesley Logan 28:57  Well, I do, but some people don't.Pav Lertjitbanjong 29:01  More power to you. More power to you.Lesley Logan 29:04  But I, but I do agree, like, it is interesting. Like, I actually believe in a healthy capitalism, right? Like, I actually think, like, Netherlands is really great. Like, I want to live there. They have a community-based capitalism. I'm in. But I do think that you're right that, like, there's a lot of lies, that the more stuff we have, the more rich we are. When really, like, I'm looking at a very full closet and like, when was the last time we opened this closet door? Like, when do we use these things? And so I think that there is something about what you're saying is like, we can layoff-proof of our life by just evaluating, like, are we living a life that we actually want or are we living one that we we're lied to about. Pav Lertjitbanjong 29:44  Right. Exactly. I think, like my point on.Lesley Logan 29:47  I'm sorry, I cut you off because I, because people know I have a lot of handbags.Pav Lertjitbanjong 29:51  Trust me, me too, like I used to work so close to Fifth Avenue, so totally understand, and that's why I never had savings when I was younger. Anyway, but, yeah, like, basically, you don't need millions to retire early if you want to. There are different types of retirement, or, like, we call it like a FIRE, right? The FIRE movement, Financial Independence Retire Early movement. So there are different types of FIRE that allows you to retire early. Like some people, for example, can, you know, retire with, like, a super tight budget. Some people retire with big budget, with what? So what that means they need to make more money, and they need to invest more and they need longer time to invest, right? Or some people, they call it like a barista FIRE. So for barista FIRE is more on you you basically you retire, but if you still, like, keep a part time job that gives you benefits, and, you know, like, still earn.Lesley Logan 30:45  Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, that's like, my dad, because he can't sit still. Can't do it.Pav Lertjitbanjong 30:51  I mean, whatever works for, you know, for for him, or, like, for each person is totally different. But yeah, like, I before I retire, and I would say, like, now I'm more, like, you know, kind of in a way, like a same might retired, because obviously, like, I don't think that we can actually, like, sit still and just, okay, like, today I'm just gonna go to the beach and do nothing, even though it's so cool, but you get bored, right? But, but, yeah, like, you can live with so much less, and you don't need millions of dollars to retire. I think that's what I I've learned from that, and how I came to that realization, though, Lesley is because of the numbers. So, you know, like, when you were talking about, like, how can people prepare to, like, layoff-proof their lives? How can people prepare to like, you know, if they want option to retire early? Like, what's the first step to get there? I would say, know your numbers. So there are only three numbers that you need to know that is so important, like, one is your net worth, assets, minus liability. The second one, I call it FU funds. People have different definition of that, but my FU fund is more like an emergency fund. You know, when you talk to experts, because sometimes people say, okay, like three to six months. I don't think it's enough these days with inflation, right? You need, like, Yeah, six, twelve months. So, basically, exactly. So that's the money that you can kind of walk out if from any situation, if you want to, it's kind of like, okay, if you I go by kind of situation. And then the last one is the one we discussed, like, on the fire, like, how much money you need to invest in in the market in order for you to, like, take a smaller amount in, on average, I think it's about 4% that you can take safely from your investment, so that you can live on and still have some money left to.Lesley Logan 32:34  Reinvest if that that's working for you. I that's great. I think that makes it so easy. Because I think a lot of people think like, oh, gotta think about my retirement. I gotta think about my life. Oh, I got laid off crap. And it's like, if you only have to focus on three numbers, it makes it really simple. And I love this idea of, like, barista fire. These are fun. These are really great. Pav, who are you most excited to work with? Like, who do you want to like, are you do do like, who is it that you're wanting to make sure that you help people like, Layoff Ready?Pav Lertjitbanjong 33:08  So I typically work with more, like a high achiever, people in corporate but I think the most I would say, like underserved market is women, right? Like, women, especially a little bit older, like, 40 plus years old that has been in corporate for a while, and are more prone to be laid off. I think these are the demographic that I'm like, so excited to work with, because essentially, that's kind of like me, in a way. You know, I think when we pursue our, like, real, true passion project, or like I call like God's given purpose, you actually are serving the people that. How do I say that? Like your younger self, in a way, basically.Lesley Logan 33:54  Totally, everyone who listens to this podcast is, was me. Maybe there may be there different ages of the my younger version of but yes, we are all with we're the best. We are best able to serve the people we once were. So I love this. Pav, this is so exciting. We're gonna take a brief break. Find out how people can find you, follow you and work with you.Pav Lertjitbanjong 34:14  Yes, so you can find me on Tiktok at momentsofreset, M-O-M-E-N-T of reset, or layoffready.com. Lesley Logan 34:22  layoffready.com Yeah, I can't believe that wasn't, good for you, that was waiting for you momentsofreset and layoffready.com. All right, Pav, what bold, executable, intrinsic or targeted steps do you have for us to take away from this episode? Pav Lertjitbanjong 34:36  Okay. So bold doesn't have to be loud, but it has to be true. The life that you want is not built at once. So it's built in the micro moment of honesty to yourself, so until one day the outside world catches up, and you know, you just be it to till you see it, and people will see it too.Lesley Logan 34:57  Oh, that is so beautiful. That is actually so true, those micro moments of you being honest and you're that's so wise, Pav, and then the world catches up with you. I love, instead of us. I love that. I love that so much. Pav Lertjitbanjong 35:11  Thank you. Thank you. Lesley Logan 35:15  I, well, this is so fun, because it's not like I don't always have people who've been listening to show for a long time move and slowly being it till they see it on the show. Like it's just not something that happens very often. And so it's just so cool to hear the full circle. And for for everyone to hear the full circle of you going through the life that you went through, doing the hard thing, you know? And now you've got something that can help other people do it too. I mean, like, that's just beautiful.Pav Lertjitbanjong 35:42  Yeah. And thank you so much, Lesley, for I think, like, the work that you have done actually has not just only helped me, but I'm sure, like, it has helped thousands, if not millions, of people. You are doing God's work. So I think, like, I wish that that would be more of you. So thank you so much for all you have done. Thank you.Lesley Logan 36:01  Oh, Pav, I can't, you're the last thing in my day today, and I've never received that. I'm going to take it with me on a vacation. I'm so, so grateful. You know, if we all give ourselves the credit that we would give other people, right, we would realize that, like, we actually are doing great jobs, and it's just hard. It's just hard because you don't see all the efforting that's happening. You don't see all the people whose lives, but even you, Pav, saying thank you. And also you're going to give so many people permission on this show, you know whether or not they call you to be Layoff Ready but maybe they actually just go, oh, wait. I can actually just fill out that paper. It's gonna take one day or, oh, I actually need to sit down and think about, like, what do I want? What does wealth mean to me? Like, I think that it's just so cool, and you've just given some great things. So now you're on your way to impact more and more people in the world and it's going to be a better place because of people like you and people like me and people who are listening to this podcast. You know, people listening to this podcast, you guys are amazing people, cheerleading people all the time. And I say this to the people I coach you are the only person who can do what you do the way that you do it. You are it. And so don't be quiet. Don't be soft. Don't hide your magic, because there's people who are literally waiting for you. You know you're the only one. So, Pav, thank you for stepping out and creating Layoff Ready. I'm super excited for what you're doing and for the people who are gonna experience it. And everyone, share this with a friend who needs to hear it, someone who needs to hear a journey that someone's been on, someone who needs to hear that there is ways to prepare themselves. So no matter what happens, they're ready for it and but they even they can be like a barista fire. That's so cool. Didn't even know that. So Pav, thank you so much. And until next time everyone, Be It Till You See It.Lesley Logan 37:42  Hey, be it babe. So what  I love so much about the guests that we bring on is that they continue to research what they are experts in and dive in deeper. And when they find new ways of helping people, they always reach out and let us know. And Pav has been doing a ton of research and science around. How to make decisions under pressure and what your nervous system is going through, and different things like that. So if you are working in the leadership experience or you're trying to dive more into that, or you have, you notice you're having a hard time making decisions. She's also coaching and advising people in that capacity. So if you enjoyed her energy and  her way of thinking about this topic, you're gonna love what she's doing over there.  Lesley Logan 37:43  That's all I got for this episode of the Be It Till You See It Podcast. One thing that would help both myself and future listeners is for you to rate the show and leave a review and follow or subscribe for free wherever you listen to your podcast. Also, make sure to introduce yourself over at the Be It Pod on Instagram. I would love to know more about you. Share this episode with whoever you think needs to hear it. Help us and others Be It Till You See It. Have an awesome day. Be It Till You See It is a production of The Bloom Podcast Network. If you want to leave us a message or a question that we might read on another episode, you can text us at +1-310-905-5534 or send a DM on Instagram @BeItPod.Brad Crowell 38:26  It's written, filmed, and recorded by your host, Lesley Logan, and me, Brad Crowell.Lesley Logan 38:30  It is transcribed, produced and edited by the epic team at Disenyo.co.Brad Crowell 38:35  Our theme music is by Ali at Apex Production Music and our branding by designer and artist, Gianfranco Cioffi.Lesley Logan 38:42  Special thanks to Melissa Solomon for creating our visuals.Brad Crowell 38:45  Also to Angelina Herico for adding all of our content to our website. And finally to Meridith Root for keeping us all on point and on time.Transcribed by https://otter.aiSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/be-it-till-you-see-it/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

09 Jan 2026. Etihad Rail has announced seven new passenger stations, expanding the national network to 11 locations across the UAE. What could this mean for property development, connectivity, and prices? We ask Zhann Johincke, the man with the map. Plus, could Dubai’s Water Canal area one day rival Mayfair or Fifth Avenue? Georgia Tolley reports on the city’s emerging hotspots. And a leadership change at Binance as regulation tightens across the Gulf. We speak to the new Regional Head for MENAT, and Senior Executive Officer for Abu Dhabi, Tarik Erk.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happened to Dakarai Larriett is shocking, horrifying even, and yet it is not entirely remarkable for a Black man in America. In 2024, Dakairi, an Alabama native who spent years on Fifth Avenue in NYC as a corporate executive, was unlawfully detained at a traffic stop in Michigan.  What followed was hours of race baiting, an attempted planting of drugs and later, in a cell, literal torture. This is not hyperbole. It is the truth of what happened to him captured by the police officer's own dashcam and bodycam. Video evidence notwithstanding, a judge declined to take action against the officers. In this first interview of Power Station in 2026, I speak with Dakarai about how his experience moved him to become an organizer, a champion for criminal justice reform and a 2026 Democratic candidate for the US Senate in Alabama. He is connecting with the families of incarcerated men in Alabama's deeply corrupt prison system and developing policies to upend business as usual, from lawless police officers to a for-profit prison system that enriches wealthy individuals and the state's coffers at the expense of uncompensated prisoners. His bravery is powerful.

Jacob and Drew finish Christmas Month and 2025 with a Patron Pick from their friend Wendy and it's a Plus Episode to boot! The Movie, It Happened on Fifth Avenue!

Learn more at TheCityLife.org

A tycoon's vacant mansion hosts holiday hijinks in the classic comedy It Happened on Fifth Avenue. It's the story of a vagrant who makes himself at home in the house when the owner heads south for the winter, and of how the true owner and his family end up as invited Christmas "guests" of their tenant. We'll hear two of the film's stars in radio thrillers - Charles Ruggles in "Suspicion" (originally aired on CBS on February 10, 1944) and Don DeFore in "The Furnished Floor" (originally aired on CBS on September 13, 1945). Then, we'll hear Messrs Ruggles and DeFore - along with their big screen co-stars Gale Storm and Victor Moore in a Lux Radio Theatre recreation of the movie in an Armed Forces radio service rebroadcast (original episode aired on CBS on May 19, 1947).  

Welcome back to Everyone Racers, the podcast for weekend warriors, budget-built race cars, wrench-turning heroes, and anyone who loves the chaos of amateur motorsports. Episode #415 is a wild ride packed with racing news, wrenching disasters, automotive comedy, and deep-in-the-paddock storytelling every grassroots racer will appreciate.In this Steering wheel Ep 415, Tim's fancy truck makes him do his own driving, like a sucker! Chris hangs pictures, Chrissy got a new helmet while Mental breaks down and buys a Hyundai.Really this week the gang talks about everything from golfing at Cypress Point, DIY sink disasters, buying a 2025 Toyota Tacoma, new helmets, Christmas trees, and the eternal struggle of traffic-assist systems that swear they see ghosts in the fog. We also dive into the hilarious chaos of a Waymo self-driving car wandering into a felony stop, Hyundai recalling only its silver cars, and a Tesla showing “people” in a cemetery at night. Then it's onto real racing:

Hannah Murray will start by looking at the bestseller lists on Amazon.co.uk and The Sunday Times, the oldest and most influential book sales chart in the UK, and seeing what new entries there are. Carolyn Kirby is an award-winning novelist who studied at Oxford University. Her latest novel 'Ravenglass' plunges the reader into a turbulent 18th century adventure over land and sea.  Tim Robinson was a BBC Director and producer, asking many documentaries. He now divides his time between Camden Town and Andalucia. 'The Difficult Life' is a haunting tale of love, art and madness. It's about talented painter Lucy Lake, who questions her sanity as she navigates the complexities of her marriage to Morten Andersen, a man haunted by his past, and the ex-wife whose soul remains to haunt them both.  Jamie Mustard is an artist, a futurist, and a writer with a focus on perception in the physical world. Growing up in severe poverty and illiteracy in inner city Los Angeles, Jamie now works as a strategic multi-media consultant. 'Hybred' is a graphic novel about childhood poverty, co-written with Francesca Filomena. Set in a future-adjacent Los Angeles, it's a story of staggering poverty, drugs and violence, and of an artistic child who finds beauty in the ugly and sublime hope in our conflicts.  ... James Campbell is married to E.H.Shepherd's great-granddaughter and has had responsibility for the oversight of E.H. Shepard's artistic and literary estate since 2010. 'The Men Who Created Winnie-The-Pooh' looks at the lives of author A.A.Milne and his illustrator E.H.Shepard. In celebration of 100 years of Winnie-The-Pooh, this beautiful books looks at the men behind the creation of the much-loved characters. Robbie Bach joined Microsoft in 1988. Over the next twenty-two years, he worked in various roles including supporting the successful launch and expansion of Microsoft Office. As Chief Xbox officer, he led the creation and development of the Xbox business. He retired from Microsoft as the president of the Entertainment and Devices Division in 2010. His debut novel 'The Wilkes Insurrection' introduced readers to Senator Tamika Smith. His latest 'The Blockchain Syndicate' follows Tamika as she faces a cryptic criminal syndicate threatening America's financial and political foundations.  William Coles has been a journalist for 30 years and has worked for a number of papers including The Sun, The Express, The Mail and The Wall Street Journal. His latest novel 'Movie Rogue' is based on the true story of how in 1996 a Sun reporter became an extra in one of the most searingly graphic scenes in movie history. Along the way - it's said - he also befriended both Tom Cruise and Stanley Kubrick.  Julie Caplin is the international bestselling author of the Romantic Escapes series. Her uplifting romantic comedies are set in gorgeous destinations across the globe, providing her readers with the ultimate escape. 'Christmas on Fifth Avenue' sees Evie Green's Christmas dream turn into a nightmare when a viral video makes her the laughing stock of the internet.

Which of these trends will reshape brands the most?This week on What's in Store, Karly Iacono and Chris Ressa break down the power moves happening across luxury retail—and why the category is rewriting the rules of real estate.They open with a jolt: luxury brands are no longer just leasing the world's most iconic corners… they're buying them outright. Prada dropping $835 million on Fifth Avenue and LVMH investing billions globally isn't about rent—it's about dominance. Karly and Chris argue these brands aren't reacting to the market, they're locking in control of their physical identity for decades to come. Flagships aren't stores anymore—they're statements.They then dive into the comeback of experiential flagships. After a decade obsessed with e-commerce scaling, luxury is doubling down on high-touch experiences: concierge service, curated appointments, even food and beverage. The hosts make it clear—luxury isn't selling products, it's selling a feeling you can't stream.Next, they explore the suburban shift. With affluent consumers spending more time at home, luxury is quietly testing high-income suburbs, balancing exclusivity with convenience without diluting the brand.Finally, Karly and Chris tackle the booming world of resale luxury. Once a fringe online niche, authenticated resale is taking Class A corners—and becoming a gateway for the next generation of luxury shoppers.What You'll Hear:How luxury brands are flipping the script by buying their real estate and making billion-dollar flagship bets.Why high-impact, high-experience flagships are roaring back as the core of luxury brand identity.The rise of luxury in high-income suburbs — and what it means for convenience, exclusivity, and brand strategy.How authenticated resale is becoming a powerful gateway into luxury for the next generation of shoppers.The real estate implications behind each trend — and why these shifts matter now more than ever.Chapters00:00 — The Luxury Land GrabKarly and Chris break down why luxury brands are buying their real estate and making billion-dollar bets on iconic flagship locations.08:50 — The Flagship ComebackThe hosts explore why experiential, high-identity flagship stores are surging back as luxury brands reassert the power of physical retail.16:15 — Luxury Moves to the SuburbsThey discuss the shift toward affluent suburban markets as luxury brands meet high-income consumers closer to home.22:20 — The Rise of Resale LuxuryKarly and Chris unpack how authenticated resale is becoming a major gateway to luxury—and why resellers are taking prime corners once reserved for the biggest brands.

This episode follows a full week of mother daughter life in New York where nonstop schedules, photo shoots, shopping adventures, and city chaos collide. Carol recounts her month long stay in Manhattan from facials and Fifth Avenue errands to an accidental Cartier consultation and an unexpected deep dive through Saks. Katie shares a Brooklyn garage sale story that turns into a fashion hunt while the two talk about parenting decisions, raising children in the city, and the contrast between Midwest calm and New York intensity. They wrap with dinner adventures, holiday plans, and strong opinions on Dancing with the Stars.

After a long hiatus, As Long As It Isn't True returns for season two.In 1958, Truman Capote published his novella Breakfast at Tiffany's, which would go on to become one of the most beloved pieces of literature of all-time. It would inspire the equally beloved film adaptation starring Audrey Hepburn in 1961, a film we're still talking about today. But Capote's inspiration for the character of Holly Golightly is a whole other story, as well as the flocks of women who started claiming they were the real Holly Golightly on which Capote based the character. Threats of libel lawsuits were made. But the true inspiration for Holly is something of a Freudian tale...Instagram: @literaryscandalsSelected bibliography: • Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and the Dawn of the Modern Woman by Sam Wasson• "Gay Pride Book: Truman Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany's - the Novel That Saved My Life" by Jamie Brickhouse, HuffPost • Capote by Gerald Clarke

This is the morning All Local update for November 19, 2025.

The Supreme Court is expected to decide today whether the Trump administration must comply with lower court orders to resume full SNAP payments as delayed food aid begins reaching residents across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Meanwhile, the FAA is expanding flight reductions to six percent nationwide amid a shortage of air traffic controllers caused by the ongoing government shutdown. Also, in New York City, Fifth Avenue is closing this afternoon for the Veterans Day Parade marking 250 years of the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps. Plus, WNYC's Hannah Frishberg reports from the Bronx's Fulton Fish Market, where the sprawling cold-storage space has been transformed into one of the city's most unexpected party venues.

Today is Veterans Day, and New York City held its 106th Veterans Day Parade to commemorate the men and women who have fought for our country. Mayor Eric Adams had some words for the thousands of people gathered along Fifth Avenue. Connecticut and New York are among 25 states that sued the federal government to reinstate SNAP benefits in the wake of the government shutdown. WFUV's Xenia Gonikberg reports. New York's Governor has some plans for new infrastructure projects that will combat extreme storms. WFUVs Sienna Reinders has more on what Governor Hochul has to say. There's one thing fans say outranks sports, film and streaming when it comes to their favorite form of entertainment, WFUV's Nick Verone discusses a new music survey. Host/Producer: Lainey Nguyen Editor: Robin Shannon Reporter: Xenia Gonikberg Reporter: Sienna Reinders Reporter: Nick Verone Theme Music: Joe Bergsieker

Fiona Davis is the New York Times bestselling author of eight historical fiction novels set in iconic New York City buildings, including her latest  The Stolen Queen, The Magnolia Palace, The Address, and The Lions of Fifth Avenue, which was a Good Morning America book club pick. Her research into history and ability as a master storyteller captivates readers from around the world.   Fiona is also opens up about how she deals with Parkinsons Disease, not allowing it to keep her from being incredibly productive and enjoying life!

Jason LeDoux shows it is possible to put luxury and differentiation into a Manhattan hotel.

How did America's richest family, once worth the equivalent of $200 billion, lose everything in just three generations? In this episode of History's Greatest Idiots, we explore the spectacular rise and catastrophic fall of the Vanderbilt dynasty, from the ruthless Commodore who built a fortune through steamships and railroads, to his descendants who spent it all on mansions, parties, and drinking themselves to death.This is the story of how to lose $200 billion in 95 years, one absurdly expensive mansion at a time.What You'll Discover:How Cornelius "The Commodore" Vanderbilt built America's largest fortune through ruthlessness and refusing to spend money on anything (including his dying mother's medical care)How his son Billy multiplied the fortune to $200 million (over $200 billion today) in just eight yearsThe $11 million mansion wars that turned Fifth Avenue into a Vanderbilt showcaseAlva Vanderbilt's $8 million costume ball (equivalent to $300 million today) that bankrupted New York's other wealthy families, trying to competeHow Cornelius II built a 70-room "summer cottage" in Newport that cost $12 million ($450 million in today's money)Why Reginald Vanderbilt drank and gambled away $10.5 million in just 23 years and died at age 45How Consuelo Vanderbilt was literally sold to a British Duke for $95 million to buy the family a titleAlfred Vanderbilt's terrible luck with transportation (dodged the Titanic, died on the Lusitania)The 1973 family reunion where 120 Vanderbilt descendants gathered and not one was a millionaireHow Anderson Cooper and Timothy Olyphant became the last wealthy Vanderbilts by doing something radical: getting a jobFrom Empire to Museum Tours: The Vanderbilts once controlled 10% of all money in America. They built the largest private homes in American history, threw parties that cost hundreds of millions, and lived like European royalty. Then they divided the fortune among multiple heirs, built mansions they couldn't afford to maintain, never worked, and spent wildly on gambling, alcohol, and social climbing.The Mathematics of Destruction: The Commodore left everything to one son (smart). That son split it among eight children (less smart). Those eight split it among dozens of grandchildren (financially suicidal). By the third generation, the money was so divided that maintaining the lavish lifestyle became impossible. The Great Depression accelerated the collapse, but the real problem was simple: they spent faster than the fortune could sustain.The Mansions That Bankrupted a Dynasty: One by one, the legendary Vanderbilt palaces were demolished or given away because nobody could afford the property taxes, heating costs, and servants. The Triple Palace on Fifth Avenue became a shopping plaza. Cornelius II's mansion was torn down after just 40 years. Today, tourists pay $30 to tour The Breakers, the ultimate irony: come see where we used to be rich.Anderson Cooper's Revolutionary Concept: When Gloria Vanderbilt died in 2019, Anderson inherited $1.5 million (not $150 million, not $15 million). But Anderson is worth $50 million because he earned it as a journalist. He built his fortune the old-fashioned way: by working. And he plans to give it all to charity, officially ending the Vanderbilt fortune after 150 years.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠Artist: Sarah Chey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/sarahchey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Animation: Daniel Wilson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/wilson_the_wilson/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music: Andrew Wilson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/andrews_electric_sheep⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Adam Bierman—co-founder of MedMen—shares how a desperate, all-in bet on a federally illegal, unlicensed Venice Beach shop in 2010 became the world's most recognized cannabis brand, with Apple-style stores from Beverly Hills to Fifth Avenue and a multibillion valuation. A dingy dispensary doing ~$300k a month revealed massive demand; a “Canna Mums” encounter reframed the mission from retail to culture, policy, and patients. MedMen pieced together legitimacy—operating under California's medical veil, banking out of Las Vegas, and listing in Canada—helping drag cannabis into the mainstream (yes, Kardashians and Kimmel included). But hypergrowth met hard limits: heavy cash burn, governance questions, and a key PharmaCann merger slowed by unusual DOJ antitrust scrutiny under AG William Barr. Financing from Gotham Green Partners (Jason Adler) kept the lights on—on senior, highly protected terms. As debt mounted and regulation remained choppy, the story ended in bankruptcy/liquidation, even as MedMen's retail blueprint reshaped how dispensaries look and operate across the U.S. Why leaders should watch:

In tonight's sleep hypnosis with Jessica, we're stepping inside the main branch of the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue — an oasis of calm in the middle of Manhattan. Once a place she found too quiet, Jessica now sees the library as a sanctuary for the mind, where the noise of the world fades and stillness takes over. As always, tonight's episode will start with a relaxing introduction from Jessica, before we sink into tonight's Sleep Hypnosis. Want more Sleep Magic? Join Sleep Magic Premium ✨ Enjoy 2 bonus episodes a month plus all episodes ad-free, access to Jessica's complete back catalog of over 60 episodes, and show your support to Jessica.  To Subscribe 

Were the Vanderbilts visionary aristocrats building a lasting legacy, or history's most spectacular example of how to lose an unfathomable fortune in three generations? In this episode of History's Greatest Idiots, we explore the family that controlled 10% of all money in circulation in America and turned it into absolutely nothing through the revolutionary strategy of building 250-room houses nobody needed and throwing $8 million parties to impress people who already hated them.This is the story of the Vanderbilt dynasty: from ruthless railroad tycoon to 120 descendants without a single millionaire among them in less than a century. Featuring marble palaces, forced marriages to British dukes, and enough champagne-fuelled bad decisions to sink the Lusitania. Oh wait, that happened too.What You'll Discover:How Cornelius "The Commodore" Vanderbilt built a $200 billion fortune (in relative economic terms) by being brilliant, ruthless, and too cheap to buy a new coatWhy his son William Henry was the last competent Vanderbilt, doubling the fortune before his descendants set it on fireThe $265 million "summer cottage" with 70 rooms that required 40 full-time servants (The Breakers in Newport)Alva Vanderbilt's $8 million costume ball that forced New York society to accept them (one guest came dressed as a working lightbulb)George Vanderbilt's 250-room Biltmore Estate that accidentally became a successful tourist attraction by losing so much moneyHow Consuelo Vanderbilt was literally sold to the Duke of Marlborough for $95 million and a fancy titleReginald Vanderbilt's masterclass in drinking and gambling away $400 million in just 23 yearsWhy Alfred Vanderbilt survived cancelling his Titanic ticket only to die on the Lusitania three years laterThe 1973 family reunion where 120 Vanderbilt descendants gathered and not one was a millionaireHow Anderson Cooper became the last wealthy Vanderbilt by doing something radical: getting a jobThe Mathematics of Disaster: The Commodore leaves $95 million to one son. That son splits it among eight children. Those eight split it among dozens of grandchildren. Each generation builds million-dollar mansions requiring hundreds of thousands in annual maintenance. None of them work. All of them spend like the money is infinite. Spoiler: it wasn't.The Gilded Age Arms Race: We explore how the Vanderbilts competed with the Astor's and other old money families by building increasingly absurd monuments to their wealth: Fifth Avenue châteaux that were demolished 40 years later because nobody could afford the property taxes, Newport "cottages" with indoor swimming pools and two-story libraries, and enough marble to build a small Italian village.Three Generations of Wealth Destruction:First Generation (The Commodore): Builds empire through ruthless business practices and penny-pinchingSecond Generation (William Henry's children): Maintains wealth while building increasingly expensive houses and establishing lavish lifestylesThird Generation: Drinks it, gambles it, and watches their houses get torn down because they can't afford the heating bills.⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠Artist: Sarah Chey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/sarahchey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Animation: Daniel Wilson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/wilson_the_wilson/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music: Andrew Wilson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/andrews_electric_sheep⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Meryl chats with Sharon Gloger Friedman about historical fiction, and her recently released novel, The Other Emma. Set in the Gilded Age, a young girl assumes the identity of her wealthy adopted sister when she perishes in the Blizzard of 1888. The novel chronicles Rose's journey from the despair of the tenements to the mansions of Fifth Avenue complicated by the weight of deception. Sharon was born and raised in South Florida and now lives in Georgia with her husband. A former English teacher who left the classroom to raise her daughter and son, she found a new career as a freelance writer and copy editor. This is Sharon's third novel. Her first novel, Ashes, is the 2019 winner of the Next Generation Indie Book Award for Historical Fiction. Her second novel, In Freedom's Light, takes place in eighteenth and nineteenth century Charleston and Philadelphia Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sharonglogerfriedmanauthor Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/friedman_sharon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-gloger-friedman-a1046714/ Website: https://www.sharonglogerfriedman.com People of the Book is a copyrighted work of Meryl Ain and Authors on The Air Global Radio Network. Website: merylain.com/ Jews Love To Read! https://www.facebook.com/groups/455865462463744 #AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #SharonGlogerFriedman #HistoricalFiction #WritingProcess #TheOtherEmma #Rose #TheGildedAge #TheBlizzardOf1888 #FifthAvenue #Prostitution #Ashes #InFreedom'sLight #PeopleoftheBook #MerylAin #TheTakeawayMen #ShadowsWeCarry #RememberToEat #LetsTalkJewishBooks #JewsLoveToRead

More than taking to the streets, a souring economy may be democracy's last hope. Beneath calm headlines, inflation persists and wealth accumulates. The numbers reveal what matters most.It's the economy, stupid.” Bill Clinton's 1992 campaign mantra has never felt more prophetic. In an era when presidential scandals barely register, where lawbreaking and corruption seem consequence-free, where the president himself once boasted he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue without losing support — the economy may be the only force powerful enough to reshape our political landscape.And right now, beneath the surface calm, something fundamental may be shifting.In this recent WhoWhatWhy podcast I spoke with Matthew Klein, economics commentator and publisher of The Overshoot newsletter. He takes us deep into the weeds of consumer spending, inflation persistence, housing market dysfunction, and the ticking time bomb of household wealth that could reshape everything in ways that simple politics cannot. Get full access to Talk Cocktail Podcast at jeffschechtman.substack.com/subscribe

This week on the Worn & Wound Podcast, we're previewing the upcoming Windup Watch Fair in New York City.Worn & Wound Co-founder and CEO Blake Malin hosts, along with Nelly Calhoun and Kyle Snarr from the Partnerships team, to break down what's in store as we celebrate ten years of the Windup Watch Fair with our biggest and most ambitious event yet.Held at Center415 on Fifth Avenue from Friday, October 17 through Sunday, October 19, this 10th Anniversary Edition brings together more than 140 brands, makers, and partners for a weekend of hands-on discovery, conversation, and community. The team highlights what to expect from lead sponsors Bremont, Bulova, Christopher Ward, Oris, and Shinola, plus newcomers like M.A.D. Editions and Bamford. Plus Topo Designs takes the reins as the presenting partner for this year's EDC Expo. They also touch on special activations including the Brew Coffee Bar, Bruichladdich whisky tastings, and Miyota's first-ever Official Movement Sponsor showcase.Programming is packed with can't-miss panels, including “Bremont: Behind the Rebrand,” “Exploring Timex Atelier,” and the 10th Anniversary Panel hosted by Blake Malin with leaders from Oris, Christopher Ward, Oak & Oscar, and more. Plus, Mr. Kikuo Ibe, creator of the G-SHOCK, joins to share the story behind one of watchmaking's greatest innovations.Expect giveaways, product launches, and immersive installations from G-SHOCK and Aether Apparel, along with special Windup Edition releases from Bulova and Oak & Oscar. Whether you're a longtime collector or a first-time attendee, this episode will help you make the most of an unforgettable weekend in New York.The Windup Watch Fair NYC 2025 runs October 17–19 at Center415, 415 Fifth Avenue. As always, the fair and all programming are free and open to everyone—no registration required. To stay on top of all new episodes, you can subscribe to The Worn & Wound Podcast on all major platforms including Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, and more. You can also find our RSS feed here.And if you like what you hear, then don't forget to leave us a review.If there's a question you want us to answer you can hit us up at info@wornandwound.com, and we'll put your question in the queue.

We sit down with David Armstrong — lifelong theater-maker, educator, and author of Broadway Nation: How Immigrant, Jewish, Queer, and Black Artists Invented the Broadway Musical. David's 40-year career as a director, producer, choreographer, and writer has been steeped in creative risk, from his 18 years leading Seattle's Fifth Avenue Theatre (where Hairspray began!) to hosting the Broadway Nation podcast and now teaching Broadway history at the University of Washington. His passion for illuminating the overlooked creators of America's most iconic art form is both inspiring and overdue. We talk about the evolution of Broadway through marginalized voices, the political power of art that doesn't look political, and how risk-taking theaters like the Fifth Avenue became incubators for some of Broadway's greatest hits. David shares the creative leap that led to Hairspray, how collaboration with an audience shapes a show's success, and the “legacy chains” connecting generations of musical theater creators — from Otto Harbach to Lin-Manuel Miranda. He also gets candid about failure, what it really feels like when a show “almost” works, and why he still sees risk as essential to the creative process.

In this special episode, created by one of our student podcast fellows, NYU student Emily Ding interviews realtor Daisy Cui, founder of Honest NY Realty. What does it really take to succeed in the real estate industry? Emily and Daisy tackle that question by speaking about Daisy's career trajectory, her tips for networking and brand establishment, and how every job can be a learning opportunity.Daisy Cui is a real estate agent and founder of Honest NY Realty. In just one year, she went from a corporate marketing executive to a top-producing real estate agent in Manhattan, closing over $50 million in sales in 2024 alone. Balancing entrepreneurship, motherhood, and homeownership (with three mortgages), she's now the top buyer's agent for 520 Fifth Avenue, the best-selling project in 2024, and manages over 70 rental properties for investors. She has also built a personal brand through social media, amassing over a million views on WeChat Video in just a few months.For a full transcript of this episode, please email career.communications@nyu.edu. 

Carl Quintanila, David Faber, and Jim Cramer started the hour on the record rally with the Russell 2K hitting its first record close since 2021. The anchors also broke down FedEx's earnings, which beat on both the top and bottom lines. Later in the hour, Cramer brought highlights from his meetup with Apple CEO Tim Cook from the company's flagship Fifth Avenue store in NYC, as iPhone 17 sales begin worldwide. Squawk on the Street Disclaimer Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this Episode: Kelly is joined by Civic Leader, Madelyn Wils! She was on the Tribeca Community Board, Head of the Hudson River Park Trust, and is now overseeing the 400 Million Dollar Overhaul of 5th ave.  From Kelly asking where Madelyn was from, they learn that they lived on the same block in washington Heights! Madelyn tells Kelly about her time in Television: Working in advertisment sales to selling tv shows, to eventually running her own company and Producing her own shows. Madelyn also tells kelly about the discrimination that she faced and the sexism that was pervasive in the industry.  Kelly asks Madelyn about working with Charlie Rose and Larry King. Madelyn tells some funny stories about working behind the scenes on their shows.  Madelyn then tells us about how she got into becoming a civic leader. How she joined the community board, and how she was able to procure an empty lot owned by the city for the nearby school's playground.  Living in Tribeca in the late 90s and early 2000s, Kelly asks Madelyn about 911. Medelyn recounts her experience on that day, and tells us about how she was able to rally together her fellow community leaders to help everyone in need.  Madelyn tells us about her experience with standing up to Rudy Giuliani in the wake of the attacks and how she advocated for her community and brought them the help they deserved.  She then talks about how the next administration had been following her work and decided to hire her to work on developing the city. Madelyn talks about how she was able to set up the East River Ferry system, Rebuild Coney Island, start work on the east river park and settle a turf war at Essex Square.  Kelly then asks Madelyn about her new project. And Madelyn tells him about how she planned to retire after covid, but decided that she really loved working on the city. So when she got called to work on a project to rebuild 5th avenue; She couldn't say no.  Madelyn talks about the project and their plans for 5th avenue: Widening the sidewalks, adding more greenery and creating outdoor cafe space. She talks about wanting to create a beautiful scene that people want to spend time in.    But above all else; Madelyn Wils is a New Yorker.   Kelly's Social Media @NewYorkCityKopp   For updates on the 5th ave project, Follow @Fifthavenue  on instagram Chapters (00:00:00) - New Yorkers: Episode 1(00:01:20) - In the Elevator With Madeline Wills(00:02:22) - Tamela Mann on Sexual Harassment(00:06:53) - In the Elevator With Hillary Clinton(00:07:15) - Jane Fonda on Working With Larry King and Charlie Rose(00:12:25) - Tribeca's metamorphosis(00:18:00) - "You're inspiring me to get out and do something!"(00:18:32) - Mandela on 9/11(00:24:53) - Tom Brokaw on 911(00:29:57) - Clinton on his time at the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation(00:35:52) - Fifth Avenue in New York(00:45:27) - Pedestrian lanes on Fifth Avenue(00:51:20) - The Old Spaghetti Street(00:53:17) - In the Elevator With Mayor Bloomberg(00:54:16) - Madeline on Building New York City Dance Schools(00:55:51) - The New Yorkers Podcast: Madeline Wills

Send us a textIn today's episode our stack of books is tied together with the common connection of Historical Fiction...we are looking to the past for inspiration!  Join us as we delve into some FAB Historical Novels!  Plus, we'll share a Book in Hand.  Who says you can't live in the past??Featured Books:The Dollhouse by Fiona Davis (LH)Vera by Carol Edgarian (LH)The Dressmakers of London by Julia Kelly (LP)The Lies They Told by Ellen Marie Wiseman (LP)Book in Hand:What You Are Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama (LH)Books Mentioned in This Episode:The Address by Fiona DavisThe Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona DavisThe Spectacular by Fiona DavisThe Nature of Fragile Things by Susan MeissnerTake My Hand by Dolen Perkins-ValdezThe Orphan Collector by Ellen Marie WisemanGreen Glass House by Kate MilfordThe Phoenix Crown by Kate Quinn and Janie ChangAdditional Books That Go Along with Our Stack:Homecoming by Yaa GyasiThe Lost English Girl by Julia KellyShadow On The Crown by Patricia BracewellThe Glass Palace by Amitav GhoshNews of the World by Paulette JilesWays to contact us:Join us on Patreon for extra content: https://www.patreon.com/c/BookBumblePodcastFollow us on Instagram - @thebookbumbleFacebook:  Book BumbleOur website:  https://thebookbumble.buzzsprout.comEmail:  bookbumblepodcast@gmail.comSupport the showHelp us grow... please rate and review us!

Bill Dedman, Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter and New York Times #1 bestselling author of Empty Mansions, shares the extraordinary story of a reclusive copper heiress, the battle over her fortune, and the HBO series adaptation now in development. As an investigative journalist, Bill Dedman has built his career writing stories that change the way we see the world. It was that reporter's instinct—paired with relentless curiosity—that led him to one of the most extraordinary tales of American wealth: the mysterious life of Huguette Clark and the spending of a great American fortune. Had Bill not stumbled onto her story—and brought it to light in Empty Mansions—her final wishes might well have been lost in the legal battle over her $300 million estate. Huguette was the daughter of copper magnate and U.S. senator W.A. Clark, one of the richest men in America. She grew up in dazzling extravagance: the largest home in New York City, with 121 rooms, four art galleries displaying rare art, and a $100,000 pipe organ that filled the halls with music. There was also Bellosguardo, the family's 23-acre estate in Santa Barbara with sweeping views of the Pacific. She traveled to Europe, attended champagne soirées and black-tie balls—it was, by any measure, a life lived in grandeur. And yet, in stark contrast, Huguette later chose seclusion. For decades, Huguette lived reclusively in her Fifth Avenue apartments, surrounded by paintings by Renoir, Degas, and Corot, and by her vast collection of antique dolls—thousands of them, some dressed in custom Dior. She painted portraits, read voraciously, and built elaborate miniature temples by hand, each costing up to $100,000 to make. In her eighties, though still in excellent health, she chose to move into a modest hospital room, where she remained for the next twenty years—her whereabouts unknown even to longtime friends. Meanwhile, her staff kept her mansions in New York, California, and Connecticut just as she left them—waiting, it seemed, for her return. What makes Huguette's story even more remarkable is her quiet generosity to friends, strangers, and staff: $30 million to her nurse, a Stradivarius violin for the nurse's son, a Rolls- Royce for the chauffeur, a Renoir, fine jewels, Christmas cards with $30,000 checks enclosed—among many other gestures that changed the lives of those around her. Her choices were so unusual that distant relatives, left out of her will, seized on Huguette's eccentricities as grounds to question her capacity, sparking a legal battle over her fortune. Was she being manipulated? Was she unwell? Crazy? "Did you hear about the dolls?" Had they been Birkins, she'd be on the pages of Vogue... Bill uncovers a more nuanced truth: a woman of elegance and discretion, a loyal friend and deeply caring person, a trained artist dedicated to her craft. "It takes a while to get close enough to someone's choices so that they start to make sense," he said. That insight runs through Empty Mansions, the New York Times #1 bestseller that continues to captivate readers. A brilliant reporter and storyteller, no one but Bill Dedman could have written this story with such depth and intrigue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

In the Dumpster this week: We note the passing of Kelly Clarson's ex Brandon Blackstock at just 48. Please keep his four children in your thoughts. Actress, singer, Prince confidant, and other multi-hyphenate Apollonia (Patricia Apollonia Kotero), at the young age of 66, finds herself embroiled in a legal battle with Prince's estate over her name. Though Apollonia has been going by the moniker professionally since the 1980s, including while starring in Prince's Purple Rain film, and owns several trademarks for it, Paisley Park Enterprises is coming after her in the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board to try to cancel her ownership of her name.  And while the Biebers have managed to avoid entry in the Trashy Divorces Cinematic Universe (by staying married!), we are officially launching "Bieber Watch" after Hailey's strong assertion of the stability of their marriage in May's issue of Vogue. Yeah, we're late to the party - people have been proclaiming the end that marriage since they started dating! Also, Justin Bieber's Instagram shows him recently hanging out with fellow Disney Channel alum Kyle Massey, which caused a bit of an uproar online. Massey stands accused of sending nude pictures to a 13 year old.  Over in Hollywoodland, Leonardo DiCaprio has sat for a rare interview with Esquire Magazine and director Paul Thomas Anderson. In it, he explains that while he has entered his fifth birthday, his emotional age is more like 35. Seems high! Princess Lee Radziwill (and Jackie Kennedy's sister) Lee Radziwill's Upper East Side duplex is on the market - for a mere $17M. At 4,600-square-feet and with views of Central Park and Fifth Avenue, photos reveal a gorgeous home that's certainly out of our price range.  Finally, in Cardi B and Offset news, it seems that Offset may be a bit tweaked that Cardi has moved on with a New England Patriots player - and declared his crush on singer Sabrina Carpenter, though he could not name any of her songs.  Want early, ad-free episodes, regular Dumpster Dives, bonus divorces, limited series, Zoom hangouts, and more? Join us at patreon.com/trashydivorces! Want a personalized message for someone in your life? Check us out on Cameo! To advertise on our podcast, please reach out to info@amplitudemediapartners.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the Dumpster this week: We note the passing of Kelly Clarson's ex Brandon Blackstock at just 48. Please keep his four children in your thoughts. Actress, singer, Prince confidant, and other multi-hyphenate Apollonia (Patricia Apollonia Kotero), at the young age of 66, finds herself embroiled in a legal battle with Prince's estate over her name. Though Apollonia has been going by the moniker professionally since the 1980s, including while starring in Prince's Purple Rain film, and owns several trademarks for it, Paisley Park Enterprises is coming after her in the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board to try to cancel her ownership of her name.  And while the Biebers have managed to avoid entry in the Trashy Divorces Cinematic Universe (by staying married!), we are officially launching "Bieber Watch" after Hailey's strong assertion of the stability of their marriage in May's issue of Vogue. Yeah, we're late to the party - people have been proclaiming the end that marriage since they started dating! Also, Justin Bieber's Instagram shows him recently hanging out with fellow Disney Channel alum Kyle Massey, which caused a bit of an uproar online. Massey stands accused of sending nude pictures to a 13 year old.  Over in Hollywoodland, Leonardo DiCaprio has sat for a rare interview with Esquire Magazine and director Paul Thomas Anderson. In it, he explains that while he has entered his fifth birthday, his emotional age is more like 35. Seems high! Princess Lee Radziwill (and Jackie Kennedy's sister) Lee Radziwill's Upper East Side duplex is on the market - for a mere $17M. At 4,600-square-feet and with views of Central Park and Fifth Avenue, photos reveal a gorgeous home that's certainly out of our price range.  Finally, in Cardi B and Offset news, it seems that Offset may be a bit tweaked that Cardi has moved on with a New England Patriots player - and declared his crush on singer Sabrina Carpenter, though he could not name any of her songs.  Want early, ad-free episodes, regular Dumpster Dives, bonus divorces, limited series, Zoom hangouts, and more? Join us at patreon.com/trashydivorces! Want a personalized message for someone in your life? Check us out on Cameo! To advertise on our podcast, please reach out to info@amplitudemediapartners.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bill Dedman, Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter and New York Times #1 bestselling author of Empty Mansions, shares the extraordinary story of a reclusive copper heiress, the battle over her fortune, and the HBO series adaptation now in development. As an investigative journalist, Bill Dedman has built his career writing stories that change the way we see the world. It was that reporter's instinct—paired with relentless curiosity—that led him to one of the most extraordinary tales of American wealth: the mysterious life of Huguette Clark and the spending of a great American fortune. Had Bill not stumbled onto her story—and brought it to light in Empty Mansions—her final wishes might well have been lost in the legal battle over her $300 million estate. Huguette was the daughter of copper magnate and U.S. senator W.A. Clark, one of the richest men in America. She grew up in dazzling extravagance: the largest home in New York City, with 121 rooms, four art galleries displaying rare art, and a $100,000 pipe organ that filled the halls with music. There was also Bellosguardo, the family's 23-acre estate in Santa Barbara with sweeping views of the Pacific. She traveled to Europe, attended champagne soirées and black-tie balls—it was, by any measure, a life lived in grandeur. And yet, in stark contrast, Huguette later chose seclusion. For decades, Huguette lived reclusively in her Fifth Avenue apartments, surrounded by paintings by Renoir, Degas, and Corot, and by her vast collection of antique dolls—thousands of them, some dressed in custom Dior. She painted portraits, read voraciously, and built elaborate miniature temples by hand, each costing up to $100,000 to make. In her eighties, though still in excellent health, she chose to move into a modest hospital room, where she remained for the next twenty years—her whereabouts unknown even to longtime friends. Meanwhile, her staff kept her mansions in New York, California, and Connecticut just as she left them—waiting, it seemed, for her return. What makes Huguette's story even more remarkable is her quiet generosity to friends, strangers, and staff: $30 million to her nurse, a Stradivarius violin for the nurse's son, a Rolls- Royce for the chauffeur, a Renoir, fine jewels, Christmas cards with $30,000 checks enclosed—among many other gestures that changed the lives of those around her. Her choices were so unusual that distant relatives, left out of her will, seized on Huguette's eccentricities as grounds to question her capacity, sparking a legal battle over her fortune. Was she being manipulated? Was she unwell? Crazy? "Did you hear about the dolls?" Had they been Birkins, she'd be on the pages of Vogue... Bill uncovers a more nuanced truth: a woman of elegance and discretion, a loyal friend and deeply caring person, a trained artist dedicated to her craft. "It takes a while to get close enough to someone's choices so that they start to make sense," he said. That insight runs through Empty Mansions, the New York Times #1 bestseller that continues to captivate readers. A brilliant reporter and storyteller, no one but Bill Dedman could have written this story with such depth and intrigue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Bill Dedman, Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter and New York Times #1 bestselling author of Empty Mansions, shares the extraordinary story of a reclusive copper heiress, the battle over her fortune, and the HBO series adaptation now in development. As an investigative journalist, Bill Dedman has built his career writing stories that change the way we see the world. It was that reporter's instinct—paired with relentless curiosity—that led him to one of the most extraordinary tales of American wealth: the mysterious life of Huguette Clark and the spending of a great American fortune. Had Bill not stumbled onto her story—and brought it to light in Empty Mansions—her final wishes might well have been lost in the legal battle over her $300 million estate. Huguette was the daughter of copper magnate and U.S. senator W.A. Clark, one of the richest men in America. She grew up in dazzling extravagance: the largest home in New York City, with 121 rooms, four art galleries displaying rare art, and a $100,000 pipe organ that filled the halls with music. There was also Bellosguardo, the family's 23-acre estate in Santa Barbara with sweeping views of the Pacific. She traveled to Europe, attended champagne soirées and black-tie balls—it was, by any measure, a life lived in grandeur. And yet, in stark contrast, Huguette later chose seclusion. For decades, Huguette lived reclusively in her Fifth Avenue apartments, surrounded by paintings by Renoir, Degas, and Corot, and by her vast collection of antique dolls—thousands of them, some dressed in custom Dior. She painted portraits, read voraciously, and built elaborate miniature temples by hand, each costing up to $100,000 to make. In her eighties, though still in excellent health, she chose to move into a modest hospital room, where she remained for the next twenty years—her whereabouts unknown even to longtime friends. Meanwhile, her staff kept her mansions in New York, California, and Connecticut just as she left them—waiting, it seemed, for her return. What makes Huguette's story even more remarkable is her quiet generosity to friends, strangers, and staff: $30 million to her nurse, a Stradivarius violin for the nurse's son, a Rolls- Royce for the chauffeur, a Renoir, fine jewels, Christmas cards with $30,000 checks enclosed—among many other gestures that changed the lives of those around her. Her choices were so unusual that distant relatives, left out of her will, seized on Huguette's eccentricities as grounds to question her capacity, sparking a legal battle over her fortune. Was she being manipulated? Was she unwell? Crazy? "Did you hear about the dolls?" Had they been Birkins, she'd be on the pages of Vogue... Bill uncovers a more nuanced truth: a woman of elegance and discretion, a loyal friend and deeply caring person, a trained artist dedicated to her craft. "It takes a while to get close enough to someone's choices so that they start to make sense," he said. That insight runs through Empty Mansions, the New York Times #1 bestseller that continues to captivate readers. A brilliant reporter and storyteller, no one but Bill Dedman could have written this story with such depth and intrigue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/biography

Send us a textMy Life on a Napkin - Part VIChapter 11: Start time: 0:24; Run Time: 23:00Chapter 12: Start time 23:23; Run time:20:33Epilogue (by Andrew Crowley): Start time: 43:56; Run Time: 7:00Bonus Clips:Utah Remembers Rick MajerusSweater RetirementHOF VideoESPN PromoBook Info:Title: My Life on a Napkin: Pillow Mints, Playground Dreams, and Coaching the Runnin' Utes.By: Rick Majerus with Gene WojciechowskiCopyright: 1999 - Rick Majerus and Gene WojciechowskiPublished by: Hyperion, 114 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York, 10011Runnin' Hoops Podcast 30% Off Exclusive Deal! – FlyFitTees

Last week, the New York City Council voted to approve the Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan (MSMX) . One off the largest, “neighborhood rezonings” in the past decade, this is the first major rezoning that takes full advantage of the City of Yes zoning initiative that was approved in December 2024.MSMX rezones a 42-block area generally extending from 23rd Street to 41st Street between Fifth Avenue and Eighth Avenue. For decades, these blocks were zoned for manufacturing uses and prohibited residential uses. With time, most, if not all, manufacturing jobs left this area. In recognition of this, MSMX rezoned the majority of these blocks to mixed-use districts that allow for, among other things, light manufacturing uses and residential uses. With this, MSMX is estimated to deliver approximately 9,500 units of housing, over 2,800 of which will be permanently affordable.For more information on MSMX, we encourage you to listen to our podcast Land Use & Zoning Update: Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan is Approved by the City Council where Herrick partners Mitchell Korbey and Robert Huberman discuss MSMX and what it means for the future of Midtown South.We're excited for the opportunity to help our clients better understand the benefits of MSMX, including how it allows for increased density and the potential for office-to-residential conversions.Music by Michelangelo Sosnowitz

Gayla Bentley is a trailblazer in the fashion industry, celebrated for her groundbreaking work in plus-size fashion and commitment to size inclusivity. A former Fifth Avenue stylist and Shark Tank alum, she has built a multifaceted career as a designer, author, and speaker focused on empowering women through style. Her mission to boost confidence and transform personal narratives through fashion has sparked a movement rooted in resilience and reinvention.Please learn more about Gayla Bentley at www.GaylaBentley.comIn this episode of Mr. Biz Radio, host Ken "Mr. Biz" Wentworth sits down with trailblazing fashion entrepreneur Gayla Bentley for a powerful conversation on resilience, reinvention, and the business of personal branding. Gayla, a renowned figure in plus-size fashion, shares her inspiring journey from Fifth Avenue stylist to industry pioneer and published author. Her compelling insights and lived experiences highlight the determination required to build a lasting legacy in a competitive industry.The episode also unpacks the strategic importance of personal style for business leaders and entrepreneurs. Gayla explains how style serves as a tool for building confidence and shaping one's professional image—far beyond surface appearance. From overcoming adversity to landing a deal on Shark Tank, her story delivers valuable lessons on how authenticity and appearance can become cornerstones of entrepreneurial success.Key Takeaways:-The importance of grooming and wardrobe choices in making powerful first impressions cannot be overstated, especially in business settings.-Redefining personal style can significantly boost confidence and alter one's professional trajectory.-Proper undergarments and an organized closet are essential components of building a successful wardrobe.-Gayla encourages authenticity over imitation, emphasizing the unique value each person brings to the table.-Challenges are an inevitable part of the journey. Resilience and learning from setbacks, as demonstrated by Gayla's experiences, lead to growth and reinvention.

Send us a textMy Life on a Napkin - Part VChapter 9 - Start time: 0:24Run Time: 49:00Chapter 10 - Start time: 49:24Run Time: 1:00:35Title: My Life on a Napkin: Pillow Mints, Playground Dreams, and Coaching the Runnin' Utes.By: Rick Majerus with Gene WojciechowskiCopyright: 1999 - Rick Majerus and Gene WojciechowskiPublished by: Hyperion, 114 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York, 10011Runnin' Hoops Podcast 30% Off Exclusive Deal! – FlyFitTees

In Episode 202, Susie (@NovelVisits) and Sarah explore some of their new favorite Micro Genres. Since starting the Micro Genres series, they've loved taking the opportunity each year to examine and define their tastes in these sub-sub-genres. This year, they have curated a list of 10 all-new Micro Genres, along with notable books for each category. With over 80 books mentioned, this is another year of niching down for some great book recommendations! This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog. Books Told From the Perspective of the Person Left Behind (Sarah) [2:26] Sarah The Wanderers by Meg Howrey (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [3:39] Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [3:52] Happiness Falls by Angie Kim (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [4:29] Miracle Creek by Angie Kim (2019) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [4:31] Shred Sisters by Betsy Lerner (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [4:42] Penitence by Kristin Koval (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [4:52] Z by Therese Ann Fowler (2013) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [5:11] The Paris Wife by Paula McLain (2011) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [5:19] An American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld (2008) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [5:26] The Swans of Fifth Avenue by Melanie Benjamin (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [5:35] The Wives by Simone Gorrindo (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [5:59] A Mother's Reckoning by Sue Klebold (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [6:41] Susie Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel (2014) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [7:07] Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [7:35] The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [7:37] Circe by Madeline Miller (2018) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [7:52] We Begin at the End (Susie) [8:22] Sarah Beyond the Point by Claire Gibson (2019) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [12:46] Penitence by Kristin Koval (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [13:16] I'm That Girl by Jordan Chiles (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [14:20]  Susie The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[10:20] What Happened to Nina? by Dervla McTiernan (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[10:49]  Victim by Andrew Boryga (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [11:48] How We Named the Stars by Andrés N. Ordorica (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [12:21]  Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [12:28]  Other Books Mentioned We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker (2021) [8:33]  A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst (2025)  [13:54]  Big Business Women (Sarah) [14:34] Sarah Anna Bright is Hiding Something by Susie Orman Schnall (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [15:29] The Boys' Club by Erica Katz (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [15:46]  Women Are the Fiercest Creatures by Andrea Dunlop (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [15:51]  Dead Money by Jakob Kerr (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [15:55]  Susie The Whisper Network by Chandler Baker (2019) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[16:30] The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer (2018) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [16:55]  Other Books Mentioned Bad Blood by John Carreyrou (2018) [15:34]  Books By Irish Authors Telling Distinctly Irish Stories (Susie) [17:35] Sarah Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe (2018) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [22:30]  Northern Spy by Flynn Berry (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [22:43]  The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:52]  56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [23:39]  Susie Nesting by Roisín O'Donnell (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [19:39] The Coast Road by Alan Murrin (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [20:07] The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[20:54]  Juno Loves Legs by Karl Geary (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [20:59] Home Stretch by Graham Norton (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [21:02]  Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [21:50]   Trespasses by Louise Kennedy (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [22:07]  Other Books Mentioned Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt (1996) [19:20]  Normal People by Sally Rooney (2018) [23:16]  Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent (2023) [24:07]  Unraveling Oliver by Liz Nugent (2013) [24:09]  The Collective “We” Narration (Sarah) [24:33] Sarah The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides (1993) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[25:59]  We Wish You Luck by Caroline Zancan (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [26:16]  The Mothers by Britt Bennett (2016)| Amazon | Bookshop.org  [27:31]  Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [27:56]  Susie The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka (2011) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [28:38] The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [28:58]   Other Books Mentioned The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker (2012) [25:09]  The Strange Case of Jane O. by Karen Thompson Walker (2025) [25:11]  The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett (2020) [27:39]  Torn Between Two Lovers: The Women's Edition (Susie) [29:40] Sarah Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (1936) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [33:05]  Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding (1996) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [33:14]  Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (2005) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [33:35] Susie Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [31:18]  The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [31:38]  One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:18]  An American Marriage by Tayari Jones (2018) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [32:44]  Fiction Modeled on Real-Life Serial Killers or Crimes (Sarah) [33:50] Sarah The Death of Us by Abigail Dean (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [34:33]  Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [34:39]  Heartwood by Amity Gaige (2025)| Amazon | Bookshop.org  [34:42]   We Burn Daylight by Bret Anthony Johnston (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [34:52]  The Girls by Emma Cline (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [35:00] Only Love Can Break Your Heart by Ed Tarkington (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:05] When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:29]  Monday, Monday by Elizabeth Crook (2014) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [35:39]  Susie Wolf at the Table by Adam Rapp (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [36:05]  Books with Characters Struggling with Mental Health (Susie) [36:57] Sarah Sociopath by Patric Gagne, PhD (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [41:24]  Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [41:58]  Bitter Sweet by Hattie Williams (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [42:13]  Fire Exit by Morgan Talty (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [42:23]  When I Ran Away by Ilona Bannister (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [42:28] The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon (2003) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [42:36]   Susie Shred Sisters by Betsy Lerner (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [37:56]  More or Less Maddy by Lisa Genova (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:06]  Interesting Facts About Space by Emily Austin (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:43]  My Lovely Wife in the Psych Ward by Mark Lukach (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:13]  I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:58] Other Books Mentioned Soldier Sailor by Claire Kilroy (2023) [42:33]  Dude Thrillers (Sarah) [42:45] Sarah Dead Money by Jakob Kerr (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [43:34]  The Boomerang by Robert Bailey (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [43:40]  Departure 37 by Scott Carson (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [43:55]  The Wealth of Shadows by Graham Moore (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:10]  Red Widow by Alma Katsu (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [44:27] Red London by Alma Katsu (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [44:28]   Susie The Holdout by Graham Moore (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [44:57]  The River by Peter Heller (2019) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [45:24]  Burn by Peter Heller (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [45:25]  The Martian by Andy Weir (2011) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [45:36]  Other Books Mentioned Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (2021) [45:41]  All the Sinners Bleed by S. A. Cosby (2023) [45:33]  Blacktop Wasteland by S. A. Cosby (2020) [46:06]  Razorblade Tears by S. A. Cosby (2021) [46:13]  Standalone Fantasy Set on Earth (Susie) [46:36] Susie The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [48:36] Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V. E. Schwab (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [48:39] The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [49:07] Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo (2019) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [49:08] Weyward by Emilia Hart (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [49:28]  The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [49:32]  Circe by Madeline Miller (2018) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [49:50]  The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (2011) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [49:51]  Other Books Mentioned A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas (2015) [47:03]  Black Chalk by Christopher J. Yates (2013) [50:30] 

Stacey Williams, a Sports Illustrated model who briefly dated Jeffrey Epstein in the early 1990s tells Joanna Coles her story—and her astonishing encounters not just with the pedophile, but through him with Donald Trump. Williams reveals how a much older Epstein made a twisted boast that he had "prized" videos of her naked which she had no idea he had made. And she tells how he took her to Trump's Fifth Avenue office where a "brazen" Trump groped her. Trump's campaign denied her allegation when it was first made. But she tells Coles, "I know there are women who have interacted with them, who haven't come forward, who have anecdotes to share that confirm their behavior and their friendship." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Send us a textMy Life on a Napkin - Part IVChapter 7 (Start time 0:24; Run time 1:18)Chapter 8 (Start time 1:19:13; Run time 40:42)Title: My Life on a Napkin: Pillow Mints, Playground Dreams, and Coaching the Runnin' Utes.By: Rick Majerus with Gene WojciechowskiCopyright: 1999 - Rick Majerus and Gene WojciechowskiPublished by: Hyperion, 114 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York, 10011Runnin' Hoops Podcast 30% Off Exclusive Deal! – FlyFitTees

Send us a textMy Life on a Napkin - Part IIIChapter 5 (Start time 0:24; Run time 37:59)Chapter 6 (Start time 38:22; Run time 1:14:14)Title: My Life on a Napkin: Pillow Mints, Playground Dreams, and Coaching the Runnin' Utes.By: Rick Majerus with Gene WojciechowskiCopyright: 1999 - Rick Majerus and Gene WojciechowskiPublished by: Hyperion, 114 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York, 10011Runnin' Hoops Podcast 30% Off Exclusive Deal! – FlyFitTees

Once upon a time New York City oysters were not only plentiful and healthy in the harbor, they were an everyday, common food source. The original fast food!For that reason, the oyster could be an official New York City mascot. Oyster farming was a major occupation. Oyster houses were an incredibly common place for people to eat. The greatest restaurants in the city served oysters, as did the small basement dives.In many ways, they united all New Yorkers, not just from the Lower East Side to Fifth Avenue, but even with those people who came before – the Lenape indigenous tribes, the original Dutch settlers and even the colonial English. Oysters defined the New York City palate by the early 19th century. Businessmen like Thomas Downing (one of New York's first successful Black restaurateurs) fed the stock brokers on Wall Street while the Delmonico Brothers served them on the half-shell in their new French inspired eatery.But today -- New York City oysters are inedible. And for most of the 20th century, they were functionally extinct thanks to the harbor's notoriously poor water quality.Thanks to organizations like the Billion Oyster Project, however, the oyster has returned to the harbor. And soon we may see a billion oysters -- and more! Brian Reagor, director of development and communications at the Billion Oyster Project, joins Tom and Greg to discuss the fascinating process of reintroducing the oyster to its old home in New York harbor.Visit the website for more images and information on other Bowery Boys episodes The Bowery Boys Podcast is proud to be sponsored by Founded By NYC, celebrating New York City's 400th anniversary in 2025 and the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026. Read about all the exciting events and world class institutions commemorating the five boroughs' legacy of groundbreaking achievements, and find ways to celebrate the city that's always making history at Founded by NYC.

Send us a textMy Life on a Napkin - Part IIChapter 3 (Start time 0:24; Run time 44:58)Chapter 4 (Start time 45:23; Run time 1:11:42)Title: My Life on a Napkin: Pillow Mints, Playground Dreams, and Coaching the Runnin' Utes.By: Rick Majerus with Gene WojciechowskiCopyright: 1999 - Rick Majerus and Gene WojciechowskiPublished by: Hyperion, 114 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York, 10011Runnin' Hoops Podcast 30% Off Exclusive Deal! – FlyFitTees

Send us a textMy Life on a Napkin - Part IForward (Start time - 0:24; Run time - 11:26)Preface (Start time - 11:52; Run time - 7:24)Chapter 1 (Start time - 19:15; Run time - 23:52)Chapter 2 (Start time - 43:05; Run time - 53:19)Title: My Life on a Napkin: Pillow Mints, Playground Dreams, and Coaching the Runnin' Utes.By: Rick Majerus with Gene WojciechowskiCopyright: 1999 - Rick Majerus and Gene WojciechowskiPublished by: Hyperion, 114 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York, 10011Runnin' Hoops Podcast 30% Off Exclusive Deal! – FlyFitTees

At the heart of New York's Gilded Age — the late 19th-century era of unprecedented American wealth and excess — were families with the names Astor, Waldorf, Schermerhorn, and Vanderbilt, alongside power players like A.T. Stewart, Jay Gould and William “Boss” Tweed.They would all make their homes — and in the case of the Vanderbilts, their great many homes — on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue.The image of Fifth Avenue as a luxury retail destination today grew from the street's aristocratic reputation in the 1800s. The rich were inextricably drawn to the avenue as early as the 1830s when rich merchants, anxious to be near the exquisite row houses of Washington Square Park, began turning it into an artery of expensive abodes.In this podcast, Tom and Greg present a world that's somewhat hard to imagine — free-standing mansions in an exclusive corridor running right through the center of Manhattan. Why was Fifth Avenue fated to become the domain of the so-called “Upper Ten”? And what changed about the city in the 20th century to ensure the eventual destruction of most of them?The following is a re-edited, remastered version of two past Bowery Boys shows — the Rise and Fall of the Fifth Avenue Mansion. Combined, this tells the whole story of Fifth Avenue, from the initial development of streets in the 1820s to its Midtown transformation into a mecca of high-end shopping in the 1930s. This could also serve as a primer to the HBO series The Gilded Age, the official podcast co-hosted by Tom Meyers! You can listen to the Official Gilded Age Podcast on all audio podcast players as well as YouTube.For even more Gilded Age tales, check out The Gilded Gentleman Podcast.

Can ancient Indian wisdom heal the rifts of modern religion? In this mind-expanding and often hilarious episode, Raghunath sits down with author and educator Nitesh Gor (a.k.a. Navin Krishna) to explore his new book Before Religion: Ancient India's Reconciling Vision for Universal Spirituality. From philosophical elephants and Ratha-yatras down Fifth Avenue to quantum physics and peacock-feather cosmology, they unpack what makes the Bhāgavatam a master key for global spiritual unity. Can you be loyal to one tradition without becoming intolerant of others? Does God really care which team you're on? And what if the wildest creation myth is actually… “everything came from nothing”? Key Talking Points: •⁠  ⁠“Why doesn't anyone invite Hare Krishnas to the Christmas party?” •⁠  ⁠Science, philosophy, and spirituality walk into a temple… and agree •⁠  ⁠Vedic culture's soft power: winning hearts with pakoras and Sanskrit •⁠  ⁠Consciousness, the elephant, and the Bhāgavatam—yes, they're connected •⁠  ⁠From Jesus to the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: building a house the whole world can live in Tune in to Episode 1621 of Wisdom of the Sages for a fresh take on religion, unity, and ancient India's spiritual legacy. Find his book Before Religion: Ancient India's Reconciling Vision for Universal Spirituality at https://a.co/d/26XLez1 ********************************************************************* LOVE THE PODCAST? WE ARE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AND WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN! Go to https://www.wisdomofthesages.com WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@WisdomoftheSages LISTEN ON ITUNES: https://podcasts/apple.com/us/podcast/wisdom-of-the-sages/id1493055485 CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/wisdomofthesages108

Scott Bok, former board chair of the University of Pennsylvania, longtime CEO of the M&A advisory firm Greenhill & Co., and the author of Surviving Wall Street: A Tale of Triumph, Tragedy and Timing (Wiley, 2025), talks about his life and facing crises on Wall Street and, most recently, his resignation from the Penn Board in December 2023.=>EVENT:  New York Public Library's Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library Event Center at 455 Fifth Avenue, tonight 6-7PM  

Save 25% off an annual subscription to Dwell here. During today's conversation on Back Porch Theology we're going to bring this 4- part series on prayer to a close, which is kind of like taking the very last bite of the very last brownie in a pan. It's left me wanting more. A few nights ago, I found myself rereading some of the material I'd studied on prayer in preparation for this series and got lost in an old book my dad gave me many years ago by a saint named, E.M. Bounds. He was an attorney and Civil War soldier, who then became a pastor after being seriously wounded in the war, and ultimately a devoted practitioner and prolific author on prayer. I'd almost forgotten that great man of prayer was the pastor of a church right here in Franklin, TN in the late 1800's, just a few miles from our house. So I drove past his old church, the First United Methodist Church on Fifth Avenue yesterday, and pondered a few of his observations on prayer: • Prayer is not learned in a classroom but in the closet.• Prayer breaks all bars, dissolves all chains, opens all prisons, and widens all straits by which God's saints have been held.• I would rather have prayer without words than words without prayer. And finally it was E.M. Bounds who described Christoformity as the consummate shape of prayer, “When we see how the life of Jesus was but one of prayer, then we must conclude that to be like Jesus is to pray like Jesus.” We're calling today's episode - our swan song on The Theology of Prayer - “How God Himself Said Grace.” So please grab a cup of coffee, your Bible, and a prayer journal – or my favorite thing to write notes on, which is a neon sticky pad – and come hang out on the porch with us. We're really glad you're here. Watch the Ark in the Darkness HERE. Learn more about The Chosen HERE. Kerygma Sale! Invite a friend or two and take advantage of a $75 discount on two tickets or $150 off three tickets by entering the codes BIGBIBLES2 or BIGBIBLES3. Visit https://www.kerygmasummit.com/

We invite you to come with us inside one of America's most interesting art museums – an institution that is BOTH an art gallery and a historic home.This is The Frick Collection, located at 1 East 70th Street, within the former Fifth Avenue mansion of Gilded Age mogul Henry Clay Frick, containing many pieces that the steel titan himself purchased, as well as many other incredible works of art from master painters such as Rembrandt, Vermeer, Goya, Turner, and Whistler.Frick himself had a rather complicated legacy. As a master financier and chairman of Andrew Carnegie's massive steel enterprise, Frick helped create the materials for America's railroads and bridges. But his intolerance of labor unions led to a bloody confrontation in the summer of 1892, making him, for a time, one of the most hated men in America.New Yorkers' love for the Frick Collection, however, remains far less complicated. The institution, which as been a museum since 1935, allows visitors to experience the work of the great master painters in an often regal and intimate setting, allowing people to imagine the fanciful life of the Gilded Age. The Frick Collection reopens this month after an extensive renovation (temporarily relocating the collection to the Breuer Buildiing for a few years) and we've got a sneak preview, featuring Frick curator and art historian Aimee Ng.