Second Life

Best known for her work with Beyoncé as both her personal stylist and the costume designer for Emmy Award–winning Black Is King, Zerina Akers is showing no sign of slowing down. Recently, her work with Megan Thee Stallion has been nothing short of superb; the collections she designed for Macy’s have almost completely sold out; and she’s continually building her e-commerce marketplace called Black Owned Everything, which seeks to incubate, amplify, and empower a community of brands to reach diverse and engaged audiences. On this episode, get a peek inside her brilliant mind—including the behind-the-scenes stories you don’t want to miss.

In 2011, a new brand launched that would soon rewrite the minimalist’s playbook: Cuyana. Co-Founders Karla Gallardo and Shilpa Shah built a brand centered on intentional design and buying, establishing Cuyana’s ethos as “fewer, better.” Today, Cuyana has grown to eight stores nationwide and is known for timeless collections of premium leather accessories and luxe wardrobe essentials, from alpaca and cashmere. Yet before Gallardo and Shah began setting a new standard in the industry, their early career lives were shockingly different. Gallardo worked at Goldman Sachs as an investment banking analyst, and Shah began her career in interaction design, where she gained over 15 years of experience designing web and mobile interfaces for companies such as Disney, AT&T, and Sun Microsystems. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Gallardo and Shah came together to create a dynamic, strategic brand without losing sight of their mission.

If you’ve downloaded the app The Pattern, you already know that founder and astrologer Lisa Donovan’s knowledge of the stars runs deep. On this episode, we take a break from our regularly scheduled fashion programming to hear what the stars have in store for 2022. Hear about the intense energies you might have been feeling in December, a breakdown of what eclipses and retrogrades really mean, and the massive astrological event in the birth chart of the U.S. happening on January 22.

Pastry chef, entrepreneur, and author Amirah Kassem is the genius behind the Instagram-famous Explosion Cakes and her vibrant pastry brand Flour Shop. Since the brand’s founding in 2012, her one-of-a-kind creations have gained the attention of millions globally, including celebrities such as Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian, and Sarah Jessica Parker. Kassem has also written multiple books—The Power of Sprinkles: A Cake Book and two children’s books—and has product collections with everyone from Williams-Sonoma to Pottery Barn and an apparel collaboration with Vans. Most recently, she joined the Disney+ food-art series Foodtastic as a judge. But before she began paving her own pastry path, she worked in quite a different creative industry: fashion. She held a plethora of positions in the NY fashion scene, including at Andy Warhol’s Interview magazine and Johan Lindeberg’s beloved denim and leather label Blk Dnm. On this episode of Second Life, hear how Kassem turned her passion for pastries into a celebrated multi-vertical brand.

From her days modeling for Chanel to countless stunning movie premieres, actress Diane Kruger has been dressing the part for years. On this episode, fashion editor Eliza Huber chats with Diane for our January cover story about her upcoming film, The 355; her favorite items in her wardrobe; and the best places to shop, from Paris to New York.

Chrissy Rutherford has become the ultimate multi-hyphenate. She is a writer, entrepreneur, digital creator, and brand consultant. This year, Rutherford launched her own newsletter, FwdJoy, where she shares her unique perspective with her audience and covers a vast range of topics, from her relationship with therapy to tarot card readings. In 2020, alongside Danielle Prescod, Rutherford co-founded 2BG Consulting—a company dedicated to educating fashion and beauty brands on how to create actively anti-racist brand identities from the inside out while fostering inclusive and diverse values. Rutherford has become a passionate, authentic voice in the industry, but before she manifested her own unique path, she spent 12 years in the fashion media space, working her way up at Harper’s Bazaar as one of the first members of the digital team. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Rutherford found the faith to take the leap toward a new career path—on her own terms.

Jing Gao is the brilliant chef and entrepreneur behind Fly by Jing, the first premium Chinese food company that has turned into a foodie phenomenon, bringing thoughtfully crafted pantry staples to the modern kitchen. Inspired by the flavors of her hometown Chengdu, China, Gao launched the brand with the hero product Sichuan Chili Crisp, which became the highest-funded food project on Kickstarter and, subsequently, the top-selling hot sauce on Amazon. Prior to Fly by Jing, Gao founded an award-winning restaurant in Shanghai, Baoism, and even started an international roving supper club. But before Gao found her calling through food and flavor, she actually worked as a brand manager at Procter & Gamble and in tech for Blackberry and the global design firm Frog Design. Is your jaw on the floor now? Just wait until you’ve heard Gao’s entire story.

Susan Matheson is responsible for costuming some of our favorite blockbuster movies, from Step Brothers and The Town to The Big Short and Friday Night Lights. She has been leading teams in creating sartorial worlds for over two decades, and her latest project is the highly anticipated Netflix film Don’t Look Up, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence, that is debuting on December 24. But before Matheson established herself as a major player in the industry, she actually started her career working for Mattel, where she designed clothing patterns for Barbie and Disney toys. On this episode of Second Life, hear about the catalyst that made Matheson leave what she describes as a “dream career in fashion” to follow the truest form of her passion within film.

Frustrated by the lack of women in the luxury watch world, creative consultant and writer Brynn Wallner created Dimepiece, an Instagram account and complementary website aimed at empowering women to become smarter consumers of their own luxury timepieces. On this episode, Brynn breaks down and demystifies the shopping experience, gives us the history behind a few particularly iconic models, and dishes on the upcoming trends to be on the lookout for.

With over 30 years in the industry, Meagan Good, an actress, producer, director, and entrepreneur, has created her own path throughout Hollywood. Good made her debut into the world of acting when she was just 4 years old, appearing in shows such as Doogie Howser and Amen. By the time she was an early teen, she was in movies such as Eve’s Bayou and the Nickelodeon show Cousin Skeeter. She has also starred in major box-office films Think Like a Man and Anchorman 2. In her latest role, Good leads the new Amazon series Harlem, produced by legends Amy Poehler and Pharrell Williams, from Girls Trip writer Tracy Oliver. As if her extensive list of acting accomplishments and features wasn’t monumental enough, Good has taken a step behind the scenes into producing and directing. In fact, her co-directorial feature debut, If Not Now, When?, was released last January. Good has also tapped into her entrepreneurial side and founded Good Girl Wraps, a line of multifunctional satin hair wraps. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Good has navigated many career pivots and continues to carve out space for herself in whatever arena she enters.

Image architect June Ambrose has been creating culture-defining work for the past 25 years. Throughout her work on over 200 music videos with artists like Missy Elliott and Jay-Z to styling celebs for the red carpet to her newest role as the creative director for Puma Hoops, June’s fiercely imaginative mind amplifies any projects she touches. On this episode, she’s here to talk about her first collection with Puma out this December, as well as her current fashion obsessions, outfit formulas, and styling tips you don’t want to miss.

In 2018, Éva Goicochea changed the sexual-wellness industry forever with the launch of Maude, a line of thoughtfully crafted intimacy essentials. Along the way, Dakota Johnson joined the team as an investor and co–creative director, and Goicochea is now one of 10 Latinx female founders to raise over $10M in venture funding. But before Goicochea became a trailblazer in the sexual-wellness industry, she spent her early career as a legislative aide in healthcare and then a decade working in marketing and branding with forward-thinking companies such as Everlane and Josie Maran Cosmetics. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Goicochea was able to use her past career experiences to build a brand that pushes industry boundaries and encourages a healthy, everyday approach to intimacy—for everyone.

Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle are the comedic geniuses behind the show Pen15, in which the two adult women play outcast 13-year-old versions of themselves as they navigate the highs and lows of middle school. Taking place in the year 2000, the pair not only nail teenage angst and awkwardness like we’ve never quite seen on TV before, but watching the show also evokes major nostalgia. On this episode, Erskine and Konkle bring us inside creating the Pen15 world—Tamagotchis, braces, and tankinis included. Plus, hear what we can expect from season two, part two, available on Hulu Dec 3.

Tia Williams is not only the editorial director at the Estée Lauder Companies Inc., overseeing the voice of its subsidiary brands, but she’s also a best-selling author. Her latest book, Seven Days in June, became an instant hit as an NYT best seller and a Reese Witherspoon book-club pick. Williams is also the author of The Accidental Diva, young adult novels It Chicks and Sixteen Candles, The Beauty of Color (which she wrote alongside supermodel Iman), and The Perfect Find, which is currently being adapted into a Netflix film starring Gabrielle Union. Meanwhile, she’s held beauty editor positions at Elle, Glamour, and Essence. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Williams has managed to fulfill her childhood dreams of not one but two successful career paths simultaneously.

Celebrity stylist Jeanne Yang’s Instagram profile reads “Stylist to four Superman, five Batman, three Spiderman, Ironman, Neo, Mr Grey, Aquaman, other super people,” and somehow, that’s not all she is. Yang's also the genius behind the fashion of Regé-Jean Page, Keanu Reeves, Kumail Nanjiani, and many more of the best-dressed men in Hollywood. On this episode, she dishes on her secrets to making her clients look so cool, how to tell if a garment actually fits, and stylish gift ideas for the men in your life.

Sahra Nguyen is the founder and CEO behind Nguyen Coffee Supply, the first specialty Vietnamese coffee company importing directly from the source and roasting in Brooklyn, New York. Nguyen works with a fourth-generation Vietnamese farmer, whose bold arabica and robusta beans are certified clean and organic, making for the perfect cup of coffee. The brand has garnered the attention of celebrities such as Mindy Kaling and Tory Burch and publications such as The New York Times, Forbes, and Food & Wine. On this episode of Second Life, find out how a mission for diversity, visibility, and empowerment has been a constant thread throughout Nguyen's career, weaving its way from her first life as an award-winning filmmaker and producer through her burgeoning career within the coffee industry.

Heidi Gardner is responsible for some of our favorite characters on the current season of Saturday Night Live, including Bailey, the teenage movie critic; Angel, also known as every boxer’s girlfriend; and Michael Wozniak, a stadium security guard who lost everything to Michael Jordan in the digital short The Last Dance: Extended Scene. Heidi is on the show this week to discuss her fifth season with the SNL cast, her come-up within comedy (she was a hairdresser for nine years prior!), and the sneaky places to find the real fashion moments on the show.

Kate Berry is the chief content officer at home publication Domino as well as the food, wine, and travel destination Saveur. At the helm of the two major lifestyle publications, Berry draws from her 14 years of editorial experience to lead teams across various digital platforms and has become an integral part in building the brands. Prior to joining Domino and Saveur, Berry spent eight years at Martha Stewart Living and Martha Stewart Weddings after her own wedding was featured in the latter publication and its design caught the attention of Martha Stewart herself. But prior to her fortuitous calling within media, Berry was actually a floral and interior designer in San Francisco. On this episode of Second Life, hear the entire story of how Berry became the chief content officer behind not one but two aspirational publications and all of the lessons she has learned along the way.

On this episode, Harper’s Bazaar Digital Fashion Director Nikki Ogunnaike brings us inside fashion month, where she attended the spring/summer 2022 shows in New York, London, Milan, and Paris. Nikki tells us about her favorite collections from around the world, plus the biggest spring trends and who’s doing them the best.

If you’re into wellness, you likely would instantly recognize the modern pastel palette of superfood brand Golde from your Instagram feed. The collection of superfoods and skincare-boosting products, such as the Original Turmeric Latte Blend, are made with contemporary ingredients that think beyond the traditional healing box. In 2017—at just 23 years old—Trinity Mouzon Wofford launched the brand from her Brooklyn apartment. Four years later, Golde can be found on the shelves of massive retailers like Urban Outfitters, Goop, and Target. But before it all, Wofford was actually on a more traditional path to becoming a doctor. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Wofford built her accessible and joyful wellness brand after diverging from her initial medical path and stopping at various startups along the way.

Tara Swennen is a celebrity stylist responsible for dressing stars such as Idina Menzel, Matthew McConaughey, and Kristen Stewart. On this episode, Swennen brings us inside her strategy for dressing Stewart for the stunning Spencer press tour. Plus, she shares the classics that should be in everyone’s closet and the most used items in her styling kit.

Katie Lopes and Nicola Piercy founded the sustainable knickers brand, Stripe and Stare, back in 2017. Today, the London-based company is distributed globally—here in the U.S. online and at retailers like Shopbop and Bloomingdales—and just released its most sustainable line yet: The B Edit, which is 100% biodegradable. But how did this duo come together to create a line beloved by bums around the world? Nicola spent her first life in marketing, where she built an online platform that sold houses. She also managed a chain of cooking schools. Katie, on the other hand, spent a number of years in production at Channel 7 in Sydney, Australia, before opening a fashion boutique in the UK. And for the rest of the story, you’re going to have to tune in!

Nicole Chavez is the brilliant fashion guru and stylist behind massive Hollywood names such as Rachel Bilson, Kristen Bell, and Jessica Simpson. On this episode, she tells Hillary how her favorite red carpet moments came together, how to style the coolest trends we’ll see this winter, and the outfit formulas that win every time.

Grace Bonney is a digital pioneer, a design expert, and the founder of Design*Sponge. She is also the author of best-selling books Design*Sponge at Home and In the Company of Women, the founder of Good Company magazine, and the host of the After the Jump podcast. Her latest book—Collective Wisdom: Lessons, Inspiration, and Advice from Women over 50, which will be released tomorrow, October 26—features unfiltered, eye-opening conversations with more than 100 diverse women. On this episode of Second Life, find out about the project that moved Bonney to make a major career pivot of her own as she sets out to become a marriage and family therapist.

Israel-born, New York–based fashion designer Nili Lotan couldn’t go out of style if she tried. On this week’s episode, she tells Hillary how she got her start in the industry—including leading design teams at Ralph Lauren and Liz Claiborne—before creating her eponymous label at age 46. They also chat about her recent expansion into categories such as handbags and her best style advice of all time.

Founded by Jessica Ewing, Literati is an innovative experiential book club for all ages dedicated to connecting people through the power of reading. Literati launched in 2017 as a unique try-before-you-buy book-curation service for kids, and in August 2020, the brand expanded to offer book clubs for adults led by thought leaders like Stephen Curry, Malala, and Cheryl Strayed. But before Ewing completely reshaped the art of book discovery, she worked in tech as a product manager at Google. In fact, Ewing was featured in Fast Company as one of Google's 12 Most Innovative Minds in 2007, and she is the co-owner of five different patents in consumer technology design. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Ewing's past career and personal experiences (i.e., writing a novel of her own!) led her to create a company for artists and creators that is solving the problem of book discovery.

Model, body-positivity advocate, and newly dawned influencer Remi Bader exploded last year when her realistic clothing hauls went absolutely viral on TikTok. Now, she’s been tapped by brands like Good American, Aerie, The RealReal, and Abercrombie & Fitch for her valuable insights. In this episode, Hillary chats with Remi about the behind-the-scenes aspect of her famous clothing hauls, her favorite size-inclusive brands she goes to first, and the fall essentials currently in her shopping cart.

Sabeena Ladha—the founder and CEO of Deux, the good-for-you cookie dough company—is completely revolutionizing the relationship between health-conscious eating and notoriously sweet foods by refusing to compromise taste and health. Ladha launched the enhanced cookie dough with flavors like Chocolate Chip with immune support, Brownie Batter with collagen support, and Ginger Doodle with stress-relieving ingredients such as ashwagandha. Only about a year old, Deux has already landed on the shelves of renowned L.A.-based health-food mecca Erewhon as its best-selling cookie dough brand. But before Ladha began disrupting the sweets industry, she worked at major food conglomerates Diamond Foods and PepsiCo, where she worked on the largest chip brand in the world, Lays. She then became a consultant at McKinsey & Company and subsequently ran a venture studio at M13. On this episode of Second Life, find out how all of Ladha’s past experiences led her to a deeper understanding of the world of consumer packaged goods in order to disrupt it.

Simply put, Tracey Cunningham is a hair color god, responsible for the perfect hues on some of the biggest Hollywood names like Emma Stone, Halle Berry, Jennifer Lopez, and Margot Robbie. On this episode, she dishes on how to achieve those coveted looks, the colors her clients are requesting the most this fall, and just how to take care of your color—from the pre-salon checklist to the best ways to preserve color, and everything in between.

To say Dany Garcia is a powerhouse is an understatement. In fact, her extensive list of accolades can speak for itself: She is the chairwoman and CEO of The Garcia Companies, an entertainment mogul, a founder, an investor, a philanthropist, a professional athlete, and a producer. From working on notable films like Baywatch and HBO’s iconic series Ballers to becoming the first woman to own an equal or majority stake in a major professional league in the U.S. (the XFL) to owning an incredibly chic clothing line, GSTQ, there’s no doubt that Garcia is unstoppable. But before Garcia began her burgeoning career in entertainment, she actually spent her first life in wealth management at Merrill Lynch before starting her own wealth-management firm. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Garcia’s past knowledge from wealth management helped her build her rapidly evolving empire.

Ready-to-wear and bridal designer Monique Lhuillier's romantic and feminine aesthetic has been cherished in the fashion industry for quite some time now—25 years to be exact. On this episode, Hillary and Monique chat about everything the designer has accomplished over the past quarter century, from designing Britney Spears’ wedding dress to dressing eight major celebrities at the 2019 Golden Globes to being invited to the White House after dressing Michelle Obama.

In 1997, Amy Smilovic launched the ultimate cool-girl brand, Tibi, and it was only a matter of time before it proved itself as a key player within the fashion industry. Then, in 2010, Smilovic took a major risk: She decided to completely redesign and reimagine the brand to align with her current aesthetic and feelings. With a newfound focus on what Smilovic refers to as “creative pragmatism” in mindset and style, she successfully pulled off a 180-degree rebranding. After 24 years, Tibi is bigger than ever, at the forefront of the industry, and housed at esteemed retailers like Intermix and Net-a-Porter in addition to its own e-commerce business. But before it all, the Georgia native began her career in advertising and marketing at Ogilvy and American Express. On this episode of Second Life, find out how she’s navigated it all and hear her best advice for building sustainable businesses.

After a 10-year hiatus from music, singer, songwriter, and popstar Natalie Imbruglia is back with her sixth studio album, Firebird, out September 24. On this episode, Natalie tells Hillary how she found the confidence to return to her truest vocation after a harrowing bout of writer’s block, what we can expect from the highly anticipated project, and of course, about all those '90s ’fits that have never left our mood boards. This episode is sponsored by Clarins NEW Total Eye Lift. In honor of Clarins’ 10 year anniversary with FEED, join in the #ClarinsxFEED social challenge starting September 24th by posting a throwback photo when you were in school, and tagging @clarinsusa, @feed, and #ClarinsxFeed. For each post, Clarins will donate 10 meals to a child in need via FEED’s giving partner, No Kid Hungry. Tag five friends so they can join the cause and help to reach Clarins’ goal of up to 100,000 school meals by October 10th, 2021. Learn more about Clarins responsible beauty commitment: https://www.clarinsusa.com/en/responsible-beauty-feed/ Shop Clarins NEW Total Eye Lift: https://www.clarinsusa.com/en/total-eye-lift/

Chances are you know Stephanie Shepherd as the former Chief Operating Officer of the Kardashian West Brands, but the environmental advocate has pivoted since she left the Kardashian empire into something of her own: Future Earth. Through Future Earth, Shepherd is meeting you wherever you are in your sustainability journey to living a lower-impact lifestyle. With almost 2 million followers, she’s dedicated her social platform and influence to inspire global activism. But before Shepherd became an environmental thought leader and changemaker (and even before she helped build the Kardashian West Brands into a burgeoning business), she started her career performing as a dancer and assistant to creative director Mikey Minden and Pussycat Dolls founder Robin Antin. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Shepherd took an unexpected turn that’s making a real impact on our environment and mother earth.

Erica Cloud joins the show to talk about the 2021 Met Gala, for which she dressed both singer-songwriter Kacey Musgraves and actor-producer Dan Levy. Erica brings us behind the scenes of what goes into the preparation of one of the biggest nights in fashion, how she interpreted the theme (In America: A Lexicon of Fashion) of this year’s event, and what it’s like to style multiple major Hollywood celebs. This episode is sponsored by Clarins NEW Total Eye Lift. In honor of Clarins’ 10 year anniversary with FEED, join in the #ClarinsxFEED social challenge starting September 24th by posting a throwback photo when you were in school, and tagging @clarinsusa, @feed, and #ClarinsxFeed. For each post, Clarins will donate 10 meals to a child in need via FEED’s giving partner, No Kid Hungry. Tag five friends so they can join the cause and help to reach Clarins’ goal of up to 100,000 school meals by October 10th, 2021. Learn more about Clarins responsible beauty commitment: https://www.clarinsusa.com/en/responsible-beauty-feed/ Shop Clarins NEW Total Eye Lift: https://www.clarinsusa.com/en/total-eye-lift/

You might call Lisa Donovan—founder and CEO of the astrology app The Pattern—a genius entrepreneur, or you might call her a soul-reading wizard. In 2018, The Pattern went live in a public beta without any marketing or PR. Today, Donovan has grown the platform to over seven and a half million users, with notable fans like SZA and Channing Tatum. There’s no doubt that Donovan’s years of work developing The Pattern are shown in the app’s burgeoning success and scarily accurate insights, but it may come as a surprise that astrology is indeed Donovan’s second life. Previously, she had a career in many forms of entertainment as an actress, a popular YouTube creator (you may remember her channel LisaNova), a producer, and co-founder of Maker Studios. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Donovan found healing through astrology and uses it to connect with millions of people around the world.

On this week’s episode, Hillary speaks with Bridgerton costume designer Ellen Mirojnick, who brings us behind the scenes of creating the fashion and sartorial world of Shondaland which—the series that broke Netflix streaming records (82 million watchers and counting). Tune in to hear about the symbolism behind the distinct color palettes, how she makes the period piece feel modern, and creating the lookbook that spawned it all. Plus take a look inside Ellen’s latest project, the newly released Cinderella.

Nana Agyemang is the CEO and founder of EveryStylishGirl (ESG) and EveryStylishGirl Biz, a company dedicated to the advancement of Black and Brown women in the media and fashion industry. Since 2017, ESG has provided over 15,000 women with the tools to become successful and feel professionally empowered through its annual Sip N’ Slay conferences and a plethora of online resources. There’s no denying that ESG is a testament to Agyemang’s vast industry knowledge and experience, which is why it may come as no surprise that before founding the company, she worked as one of the social media editors behind New York Magazine’s The Cut, where she doubled its Instagram following in just one year. Agyemang is also a former writer and editor at the industry’s top publications like Elle, Refinery29, and The New York Times. On this episode of Second Life, find out how she found the courage to leave a job she was crushing to dedicate herself to her own platform helping women of color get the visibility they deserve.

On this week’s episode, THE/THIRTY managing editor Sarah Yang sits down with our September cover star, rapper, comedian, and award-winning actress Awkwafina aka Nora Lum. Nora tells us what it was like to enter the Marvel Universe with her latest role in Shang-Chi, what she thinks about representation within the industry as a whole, and the unfortunate truth about visiting RadioShack after a Golden Globes win. Plus, she shares how she’s navigating fame, fashion, and her connection to family as she quickly becomes a household name.

Michelle Phan is a beauty powerhouse. She is the co-founder of Ipsy (a monthly subscription service that became the world’s largest beauty community), the founder of Em Cosmetics, and one of the first beauty digital influencers who—dare we say—created the first-ever YouTube makeup tutorial. Over the last decade, Phan has garnered a global community of over 10 million followers, has amassed over one billion views, and has created more than 350 videos. Today, Phan also educates her loyal community of followers within quite a different space altogether: cryptocurrency. Through her studying of the crypto industry, she draws parallels between the decentralization of power and the decentralization of content that launched her YouTube career. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Phan paved the way for an entire generation of beauty creators to come while reinventing herself time and again.

Stylist and designer Jason Rembert is the creative mastermind behind the looks on clients like Issa Rae, Mary J. Blige, and Lizzo and the stunning luxury ready-to-wear collections for his own line, Aliétte, which has been worn by Cardi B and Miley Cyrus. In this episode, Jason brings us inside his creative inspirations and process, shares his views on the responsibility to bring others up within the industry, and discusses his current obsessions in fashion. Plus, he's providing an inside look at his fall collection.

Afton Vechery is the co-founder and CEO of Modern Fertility, an innovative healthcare company making personalized fertility information and support accessible to women everywhere. Vechery founded the company in 2017, and just this year, it was valued at $225 million during an acquisition by telehealth company Ro. It’s no surprise that prior to creating the brand, Vechery began her career in healthcare private equity, where she learned of the outdated practices and predatory pricing models within the booming fertility healthcare sector. She then went on to work in strategic operations at various health tech startups and, most recently, ran the consumer-tools division at 23andMe. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Vechery drew inspiration from her past careers to build a brand that would greatly change the women’s health industry forever.

Editor in Chief Kat Collings returns to the pod alongside Editorial Director Lauren Eggertsen and Market Director Bobby Schuessler to talk everything fall trends, including what they’re looking to try, the items they’re planning to buy, and the unexpected trends making the biggest comeback. Plus, the team dishes on everything behind our editor-led, thoughtfully designed, brand-new line of ready-to-wear pieces, Who What Wear Collection, that's available to shop now at whowhatwearcollection.com.

In founding clean skin-centric beauty line Ilia ten years ago, Sasha Plavsic was way ahead of the industry in what would become known as “clean beauty.” The brand began with a lip balm that was safe, effective, and natural and has since expanded into a full range of complexion formulas that consistently win beauty awards and put the brand in the top three growing brands at Sephora. But before Plavsic set out to create the change she wanted to see in the industry, she worked in branding for an eyewear retailer, an aromatherapy company, Saje Natural Wellness, and Urban Decay. On this episode, find out how Plavsic made the leap to start her own brand and how she continues to push the beauty industry forward.

This week, Director of Content Strategy and Senior Managing Editor Drew Elovitz is back on the show to bring us behind the scenes of our August cover shoot with actress Sydney Sweeney (Euphoria, The White Lotus). Sydney dives deep into her process of preparing for a role, the book-to-screen development of her first production project starring Halsey, the upcoming The Players Club, and her unexpected hobby of rebuilding classic cars.

In 2019, a chic and relatable new cookware company emerged, and soon the multitasking Always Pan dominated our Instagram feeds. Enter: Our Place. Co-founder and co-CEO Shiza Shahid built the brand with the mission of bringing people together through the power of home-cooking rooted in the modern multiethnic American kitchen. But before Shahid launched the beloved brand, her career path looked quite different. Out of school, she worked as a business analyst in Dubai before co-founding the Malala Fund and starting NOW Ventures to help support other mission-driven startups. On this episode, find out how Shahid’s former careers led her to create a mission-driven e-commerce brand that’s created not only celebrated products, but also a community.

Karla Welch is a force to be reckoned with. She’s the founder of beloved classics brand X Karla, period underwear line Period by The Period Company, and most recently, the styling app Wishi. Also known for her impeccable body of work styling longtime clients Justin Bieber, Sarah Paulson, Tracee Ellis Ross, and many more, there is simply no stopping Karla Welch. Tune in to hear from a true talent who is equal parts progressive thought leader and fashion visionary.

Chriselle Lim was one of the first digital influencers to enter the industry, paving the way for future content creators and entrepreneurs. Today, Lim has over 5 million followers across her various platforms and channels, inspiring women worldwide through her unique perspective on beauty, fashion, and lifestyle. But in 2020, Lim made a major career shift into an industry no one was quite anticipating: She co-founded Bümo, a platform bringing licensed educational childcare to the workplace. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Lim fostered a following and used her platform to build a brand that is making a positive impact on families’ futures.

Tina Craig has worn many hats over the years in fashion and beauty, including that of brand ambassador, consultant, designer, stylist, and founder of the talent management agency Estate Five. You likely know her, however, as one of the original digital fashion influencers and the queen of handbags and luxury, BagSnob. These days, she’s also the founder of the pioneering and beloved brand U Beauty. In this episode, Tina explains the technology behind her innovative skincare brand and takes us through #TBT to review some of the most iconic handbags of the past 15 years.

Lara Devgan, MD, is one of America’s preeminent plastic surgeons, specializing in minimally invasive treatments for the face, breasts, and body, and is known for caring for some of the most photographed faces in the world. Now, in her second life, Devgan is utilizing her experience as a surgeon and training at Yale, Johns Hopkins Medical School, and Columbia and Cornell New York Presbyterian Hospitals as the founder and CEO of Dr. Devgan Scientific Beauty. With fans like Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Aniston, it’s safe to say it’s been a certified hit. Tune in to hear how Devgan has parlayed her exceptional understanding of the complexity of the skin into a thriving new facet of her career.