
Second Life
717 episodes — Page 12 of 15

Ep 167Who What Wear With Hillary Kerr: Meredith Koop on Styling Michelle Obama and Katherine Power on Merit Beauty
In the third episode of Who What Wear With Hillary Kerr, Hillary speaks with the stylist, fashion adviser, and image strategist, Meredith Koop, about her decade-long relationship styling Michelle Obama. Meredith takes us through her creative process of using fashion as a tool for storytelling—from the White House to the Becoming book tour to the 2021 Presidential Inauguration and beyond. Hear why she doesn't believe in fashion rules, the importance of a good zipper, and everything she plans to do next in her career. Then, Hillary is joined by her Who What Wear co-founder, Katherine Power, to talk through everything that went into creating Katherine’s fourth brand, the game-changing, clean, minimalist makeup line, Merit.

Ep 166Athena Calderone: Entertaining Expert, Best-Selling Author, and Founder of EyeSwoon
Athena Calderone is a modern multidisciplinary creative—from interior designer and tastemaker to author and lifestyle expert—inspiring people to connect with thoughtfully designed spaces and culinary delights through her website EyeSwoon. She has also written two books, the James Beard Award–winning Cook Beautiful and best-selling Live Beautiful, and hosts the More Than One Thing podcast. But before Calderone was inspiring her community of over 600K to live and cook beautifully, she tried her hand at many other creative pursuits, including dancing, method acting, and modeling. On this episode of Second Life, hear about her circuitous route to uncovering her vocation at the intersection of food and design.

Ep 165Who What Wear With Hillary Kerr: Phoebe Bridgers Is Our Spring Issue Cover Star
EOur Spring Issue has arrived, and our cover star is four-time Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers! Hillary and Phoebe discuss how aesthetics play a role in the musician’s persona and art. Phoebe shares her favorite products and brands, explains why she loves couture, pajamas, and bleaching her hair, and reveals how heavy that custom Gucci pearl rib cage she wore on SNL really was. Then, Who What Wear Editor in Chief Kat Collings gives us a deep dive into what else you can expect from this year’s Spring Issue, including a breakdown of our coveted trend report.

Ep 164JJ Martin: La DoubleJ Founder and Creative Commander
EJJ Martin, the creative force and founder behind iconic Italian lifestyle brand La DoubleJ, has built a brand that exuberates her playful, bold energy and maximalist design eye. After spending 17 years as a journalist at notable international publications like Harper's Bazaar and WSJ, Martin decided to start her own brand, selling her curated vintage clothing collection. Today, Martin has evolved La DoubleJ beyond a fashion brand and into a lifestyle brand featuring mood-boosting home goods, accessories, and beauty products. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Martin tapped into her extensive global network and her creative strengths to manifest a brand that not only empowers people to be bold but that also embodies her soul.

Ep 163Who What Wear With Hillary Kerr Is Here! First Up: Law Roach and Sergio Hudson
EWelcome to our new show, Who What Wear With Hillary Kerr! In our very first episode, Hillary sits down with two visionaries in fashion. First up is Law Roach, the image architect, a costume designer, and a judge on HBO Max’s Legendary. Law talks about his work for Zendaya—who he’s been styling since she was 14—Celine Dion’s fashion transformation of 2016, and his best tips for buying vintage. Then, designer Sergio Hudson takes us behind the scenes of his creative process in dressing women like Michelle Obama and Vice President Kamala Harris, who both wore his designs at the 2021 presidential inauguration. Plus, his best advice for creating the perfect ’fit and his thoughts on how the pandemic has forever changed the fashion industry. Head over to the Who What Wear With Hillary Kerr podcast page to subscribe now!

Ep 162Dr. Deepika Chopra: The Optimism Doctor and Visual Imagery Expert
EDr. Deepika Chopra is one of a kind. Known as the Optimism Doctor, she is a visual imagery and media expert and the founder of Thing Are Looking Up. Chopra’s unique specialization and perspective fuses holistic practices with science-backed, “evidence-based manifestations” to help people cultivate their own sense of lasting happiness, resiliency, and success. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Chopra's many career paths—from interning at a punk music label to investment banking—helped her manifest a career in empowering others to unlock their ultimate potential, inner optimism, and self-worth.

Ep 161Julia Turshen: Best-Selling Cookbook Author, Food Equity Advocate, and Cook
Julia Turshen, a best-selling cookbook author, reputable food writer, food advocate and founder of Equity at the Table, and podcast host, is defining what it means to be a modern, authentic author and food extraordinaire. Turshen has written three renowned cookbooks, winning prestigious awards like The New York Times best seller, Eater’s Best Cookbook of the Year, and Amazon’s Best Cookbook. Now, she’s releasing a fourth cookbook, Simply Julia, on March 2, highlighting her unique perspective on healthy comfort foods. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Turshen’s past life as a private chef influenced her voice and perspective and ultimately enabled her to fuse her passions of food and writing to create a beloved career.

Ep 160Chani Nicholas: Astrologer and New York Times Best-Selling Author
EIf you’re familiar with astrology, chances are you have come across the exceptionally talented astrologer and New York Times best-selling author Chani Nicholas. Nicholas has dedicated the last 20 years to guiding people to live their life’s purpose through understanding astrology beyond their birth chart reading. Her brand has evolved into various platforms, including her website, Chani app, and book, You Were Born for This: Astrology for Radical-Self Acceptance, where she connects astrology with current events, activism, social responsibility, and self-healing. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Nicholas was able to turn her passion into a career after holding multiple different jobs—from yoga therapist to bartender—and how she continues to learn and heal from astrology.

Ep 159Grace Mahary: Model, Activist, and Certified Sommelier
EGrace Mahary is a woman of many accolades: international model, activist, and certified sommelier—to name a few. Mahary has become a familiar face on iconic designer runways, including Givenchy as an exclusive her first fashion week, Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton, and more. Through her vast travels as a model, Mahary witnessed firsthand the many communities experiencing energy poverty. Thus, she founded Project Tsehigh with the mission to provide sustainable and renewable solutions. In 2019, Mahary took a break from the runways to add yet another facet to her career when she became a certified sommelier and eventually a restaurateur. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Mahary continuously evolves her multi-hyphenate career and works to level out the playing field across every industry she touches.

Ep 158Heather Andersen: New York Pilates Founder and Owner
ENew York Pilates Founder and Owner Heather Andersen knows a thing or two about a pivot. After injuries sustained as a professional dancer led her to the practice of Pilates, she became enthralled with the beneficial effects she saw in her own body. Soon, she became a full-time instructor, and she eventually saved enough to open a studio of her own. From one studio to six locations, building a cult-like following along the way, New York Pilates became one of the buzziest fitness studios in New York. But when the pandemic hit, Andersen was forced to pivot yet again. On this week’s episode of Second Life, hear how she’s built out her digital studio, widening the brand’s footprint and reaching a global audience—plus her best advice for entrepreneurs looking to get their own business off the ground.

Ep 157Rachel Drori: Daily Harvest Founder and CEO
In 2015, Rachel Drori saw a gap in the health and food industry and seized the moment to create something new that would change the way Americans ate daily. Drori founded Daily Harvest, a brand dedicated to making organic, healthy foods accessible and convenient—no matter your hectic work schedule. Since its launch, the brand has grown its offerings into 75 items across nine collections available nationwide that are prepackaged in 100% compostable and recyclable packaging and delivered directly onto your doorstep. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Drori used her past career in marketing at major companies such as Gilt Groupe and American Express to propel herself forward and build a brand that is making a difference.

Ep 156Lilly Singh: YouTube Creator, Actor, Producer, Best-Selling Author, and Host of A Little Late with Lilly Singh
ELilly Singh has proven to be a woman who can truly do it all—from being a comic and YouTube sensation with over 15 million subscribers to becoming a NYT best-selling author and actor. It’s no surprise she’s landed on lists like TIME’s Most Influential People on the Internet and Fast Company’s Most Creative People. In Singh’s latest role, she’s both center stage and behind the scenes as TV host and executive producer of NBC’s A Little Late with Lilly Singh, making her the only female currently on late-night television. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Singh went from studying psychology to finding happiness through content creation and letting go of her “plan B.”

Ep 155Dr. Barbara Sturm: Aesthetics Doctor and Founder of Dr. Barbara Sturm Molecular Cosmetics
EDr. Barbara Sturm, renowned aesthetics doctor, entrepreneur, and beauty innovator, completely transformed the beauty industry through her unique approach to science-backed skincare. In 2014, she launched her eponymous skincare brand, Dr. Barbara Sturm Molecular Cosmetics, which includes a diverse range of products sold in major retailers around the world and most importantly celebrates all skin types. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Dr. Sturm used a medical background in orthopedics as a basis for her skincare philosophy—one that’s garnered a cult-like following and made her one of the most sought-after beauty professionals in the world.

Ep 154Kim Malek: Salt & Straw Co-Founder and CEO
Kim Malek, the CEO and co-founder of iconic ice-cream brand Salt & Straw, has completely modernized the ice-cream industry by creating a brand whose ethos goes beyond the delicious dessert. Malek has built an unparalleled brand through a unique business strategy focused on building a community, supporting local artisans and farmers, and continually creating custom, one-of-a-kind ice-cream flavors. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Malek merged her past marketing careers at notable brands like Starbucks and Yahoo! to catapult her dream of starting an ice-cream business into a reality.

Ep 153Elaine Welteroth: Journalist, Best-Selling Author, Producer, and Co-Host of The Talk
EElaine Welteroth is one of the most inspiring women in the media industry. She was named the youngest EIC at the helm of a major Condé Nast publication before becoming a New York Times best-selling author, award-winning journalist, producer, and television host. Welteroth is also a powerful voice in the movement of change, as she was recently appointed Cultural Ambassador for Michelle Obama’s When We All Vote campaign and now hosts a new podcast Built to Last, which amplifies the stories of Black founders, past and present. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Welteroth continually evolves her career while remaining grounded in who she is.

Ep 152June Ambrose: Costume Designer, Image Architect, and Creative Director of Puma
EJune Ambrose is one of fashion’s most influential stylists, costumer designers, and image architects and is now the creative director of Puma. Through her extensive years of experience, Ambrose has established a name for herself styling and creating custom pieces for notable clientele, including Jay-Z, Will Smith, Missy Elliott, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys, Lizzo, and more. Therefore, it may come as a surprise that Ambrose began her career at an investment banking firm. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Ambrose made a drastic career pivot, how she managed to get her foot in the door in the music and fashion industries to ultimately define culture through fashion, and everything she learned along the way.

Ep 151Maria Sharapova: Founder and CEO of Sugarpova and Former Professional Tennis Player
World-class tennis champion Maria Sharapova is an absolute powerhouse. At a young age, Sharapova achieved the unthinkable: At age 17, she won Wimbledon, which was just the start of her tennis career. She went on to win five career Grand Slam titles, became the seventh female player in the Open era to complete the career Grand Slam, and was the first-ever female athlete to serve as the Russian delegation’s Olympic flag bearer. In February of this year, Sharapova announced her retirement, but her success doesn’t end on the tennis courts. Sharapova founded Sugarpova, a premium candy brand and strategically advises and invests in like-minded brands like Bala Bangles, Therabody, and Supergoop!. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Sharapova is evolving her career and using her past experiences to catapult into new business ventures.

Ep 150Cameron Diaz: Actress, Best-Selling Author, and Avaline Co-Founder
ECameron Diaz is the quintessential Hollywood actress. She’s starred in iconic films, including The Mask, There’s Something About Mary, and Charlie’s Angels, and has been nominated for countless SAG awards, BAFTAs, and Golden Globes. In 2014, Diaz became a best-selling author with her two wellness-centric books, The Body Book and The Longevity Book, which reveal Diaz’s outlook on body positivity and living to your fullest potential. Now, Diaz has launched clean-wine company Avaline alongside Who What Wears Co-founder Katherine Power, defining a new standard for clean ingredients and transparency. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Diaz is continually evolving herself beyond Hollywood and how to build a brand you truly believe in

Ep 149Jen Atkin Returns! The Founder of Ouai and Author of Blowing My Way to the Top Is Back
EIt's been three years since we sat down with Jen Atkin, the celebrity hairstylist and founder of award-winning brand Ouai, and a lot has changed. A savvy businesswoman, Atkin has successfully expanded Ouai into a holistic lifestyle brand by introducing new categories like fragrance, hand care, and solution-based haircare remedies. Tomorrow, December 8, Atkin is making her debut as an author with her memoir and spirited guide Blowing My Way to the Top: How to Break the Rules, Find Your Purpose, and Create the Life and Career You Deserve. On this episode of Second Life, find out what exactly Atkin covers in her book and how she continuously modernizes her brand.

Ep 148Noura Sakkijha: CEO and Co-Founder of Mejuri
Noura Sakkijha, the CEO and co-founder of Mejuri, founded the beloved fine jewelry brand with one mission: to empower consumers to buy jewelry for themselves rather than waiting for a special occasion or a gift from a significant other. And with over 800k followers on Instagram and a game-changing weekly drop model, the brand is, simply put, crushing it. It only makes sense that Sakkijha comes from a family of jewelers. Still though, her career path was anything but linear. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Sakkijha went from industrial engineering to founding and leading Instagram’s favorite fine jewelry brand.

Ep 147Aurora James Returns! The Founder of Brother Vellies and the Fifteen Percent Pledge is Back
EAs the founder of Brother Vellies, a sustainable luxury accessories brand supporting local artisan economies all over the world, Aurora James has been pushing the fashion industry forward and reframing our definition of a luxury good for some time now. On this episode of Second Life, we’re welcoming Aurora back to discuss new projects that have solidified her status as a visionary changemaker and industry leader—including the 15 Percent Pledge, a nonprofit advocacy organization urging major retailers to commit 15% of their shelf space to Black-owned businesses.

Ep 146Sarah Paiji Yoo: Blueland Co-Founder and CEO
Sarah Paiji Yoo’s mission is simple: we shouldn’t have to sacrifice a clean home for a clean planet. As the CEO & Co-Founder of Blueland, a brand eliminating single-use plastic by creating innovative household products in reusable packaging, Yoo has become a leader zero-waste lifestyle movement. On this episode of Second Life, hear how Yoo has not only founded this brand but has also successfully started and sold numerous others—ultimately learning the importance of personal and professional evolution.

Ep 145Elizabeth Holmes: Journalist, Style Reporter, and Author of HRH: So Many Thoughts
EAfter over a decade, Elizabeth Holmes left the Wall Street Journal, where she held the esteemed position of senior style reporter and columnist to explore a career in freelance journalism contributing to notable publications including The New York Times, Town & Country, and more. Holmes also became a voice on social media through her sartorial commentary series on Instagram called "So Many Thoughts," in which she chronicles the royal family’s style. Now, on November 17, Holmes is turning the series into her first-ever book, HRH: So Many Thoughts on Royal Style. On this episode of Second Life, hear how Holmes taps into her extensive experience as a journalist covering everything from political campaigns to the retail industry to bring us a book on the fashion and branding of the four most influential members of the British royal family.

Ep 144Camila Alves McConaughey: Lifestyle Expert, Entrepreneur, and Founder of Women of Today
After moving to the US at a young age, Camila Alves McConaughey embarked on an evolving, dynamic career path—from fashion and modeling to becoming a lifestyle expert and entrepreneur. Today, McConaughey is the co-owner of organic baby food brand Yummy Spoonfuls, and founder of the lifestyle and community website Women of Today with the purpose of building a space that encourages connection around family, food, fashion, wellness, home and more. On this episode of Second Life, hear how McConaughey learned from each experience to continually grow her career and the importance of never giving up on your dreams.

Ep 143Jenna Lyons: Founder of LoveSeen
After 27 years, Jenna Lyons, renowned style icon and president and executive creative director of J.Crew Group, stepped down. There, Lyons fearlessly worked her way up the corporate ladder, ultimately creating an authentic brand identity through photography, styling, new designs, and innovative collaborations. But eventually, it was time for Lyons to create a new brand identity for herself. Now, Lyons has just made her debut in the beauty industry, launching LoveSeen, an inclusive eyelash line embracing all beauty aspirations. Plus, after two years of development, her new show, Stylish with Jenna Lyons, is set to release on HBO Max December 3. On this episode of Second Life, hear how—and why—she pivoted away from the world she knew so well to further manifest her creativity.

Ep 142Veronica Garza: Siete Foods Founder and Chief Ideation Officer
It all started when Veronica Garza, the founder and chief ideation officer of the Mexican American food brand Siete Foods, began experimenting with alternative food options to fit a grain-free, low-inflammation diet. As someone who suffered from multiple autoimmune diseases such as ITP and lupus, restricting her diet was a way for Veronica to combat her often debilitating symptoms. But it wasn’t fun. Missing staples in her diet, like tortillas, Veronica decided to create a solution: a grain-free, almond-flour tortilla that would eventually launch Siete Foods. Backed by her family of seven, the brand has grown to include 30 better-for-you heritage-inspired products and is now the number one tortilla and chip brand at Whole Foods Markets around the country. Pretty impressive. Also impressive: This was Veronica’s first foray into food after getting an MBA in digital media management and teaching a freshman seminar course at a college in Texas. On this week’s episode of Second Life, hear how, after years of struggling with her health and struggling to find the right career path, Veronica’s brand became a solution to both.

Ep 141Karlie Kloss: Supermodel and Kode With Klossy Founder
The term “supermodel” doesn’t ring more true than when describing Karlie Kloss. After she walked exclusively for Calvin Klein in her first NYFW show, the industry immediately started buzzing, and by the following year, she’d walked in 64 shows. Now, 13 years, 43 Vogue covers, and countless ad and editorial campaigns later, Kloss is becoming equally known for her work in quite a different world: tech. Following the powerful experience of learning to code herself, Kloss founded Kode With Klossy, a nonprofit organization focused on creating learning experiences and opportunities for young women in STEAM. Tune in to hear how Kloss went from global supermodel to tech entrepreneur and how she is inspiring the next generation of women to take part in creating the technology that’s shaping our world.

Ep 140Sophia Amoruso: Nasty Gal and Girlboss Founder
ESophia Amoruso is a serial entrepreneur and a New York Times bestselling author. She founded the vintage eBay store turned online retailer and phenomenon, Nasty Gal, back in 2006, and then scaled the business to over $100 million in revenue. She’s also authored three books, the first of which, #Girlboss, she turned into a second business as a community for ambitious women. But after three years of highly attended Girlboss rallies and the hit podcast, Girlboss Radio, in June 2020, Sophia stepped away from the brand to forge a new path yet again. Backed by 15 years of experience through the highs and lows of building and scaling businesses, she’s just launched an in-depth online entrepreneurship course aptly named Business Class. “Here I am at my big second pivot,” says Amoruso. “I want to share everything that I have learned and harvest that for another generation of founders.” Tune in for the story behind building each of her iconic brands and what she wishes she had known before starting them all. Sign up for Sophia's Business Class now through Oct 9th at: https://takebusinessclass.com

Ep 139Renee Dua, MD: Heal Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer
Renee Dua, MD, is a nephrologist and internist. She helmed her own private practice in Los Angeles and served as chief of medicine at Valley Presbyterian and Simi Valley Hospitals. But after years in the healthcare industry, and one particularly frustrating visit to the ER on the patient’s side of things, Dua had a lightbulb moment. In creating a new kind of healthcare system based around house calls and telehealth, she could cut down on patient wait times and create accessibility for those for whom getting to a doctor’s office or hospital is less than convenient. Now, as the CMO (chief medical officer) of Heal, Dua is doing just that. On this episode of Second Life, hear how she made the switch from working in the traditional healthcare system to creating her own system.

Ep 138Annie Lawless: Lawless Beauty Founder and CEO
Annie Lawless is the founder and CEO behind the high-performance, highly pigmented, and clean makeup line, Lawless Beauty. The line has seen explosive growth since its 2017 launch, including being picked up by retail giant Sephora, in addition to its direct-to-consumer business. But before Lawless was creating high-impact natural makeup, she was obsessing over clean ingredients in another industry altogether: food and beverage. Lawless was a co-founder of one of the largest cold-pressed juice companies in the US, Suja, which, at the time of her exit, was valued at $300 million after investments from Coca-Cola and Goldman Sachs. On this week’s episode, Lawless discusses what it’s like for a company to grow larger than she could have ever predicted and how to know when it’s time to walk away from something to find a more fulfilling path. Plus, she shares a killer breakdown of the factors to weigh when you’re seeking investment.

Ep 137Jen Wong: Reddit Chief Operating Officer
Reddit’s chief operating officer, Jen Wong, is a digital media expert through and through. In her current role, she calls on a plethora of previous work experience at AOL, Popsugar, and Time Inc. and is helping lead the 600-person company on the road to serious growth. But before she was overseeing business strategy at the fifth most visited website in the US, and before her foray into media entirely, she actually started out in finance. In this episode of Second Life, hear how she used business school as a career reset and put herself on an entirely new path—one that’s taken her to the top of her field.

Ep 136Ayesha Curry: Chef, Restaurateur, Cookbook Author, and Culinary Entrepreneur
Ayesha Curry is an accomplished culinary entrepreneur. Her foray into food began with a blog and a Youtube channel, which have grown into a community of over 9 million followers and subscribers. Since building her platform, she’s become a cooking-show host, a restaurateur with three International Smoke locations, an active philanthropist feeding thousands of families suffering from food insecurity in the Bay Area, and a best-selling cookbook author. Her newest book, The Full Plate: Flavor-Filled, Easy Recipes for Families With No Time and a Lot to Do, is out September 22. Curry has woven food into every aspect of her constantly evolving career without a culinary degree or any formal training in the industry. Instead, she began as an actress when she was just a teenager. Hear how she pivoted from working in Hollywood to creating a culinary empire on this week’s episode of Second Life.

Ep 135Lesley Thornton: Klur Beauty Founder and CEO
Lesley Thornton is the founder and CEO behind the botanically based collection of high-performance skincare and multipurpose self-care products, Klur. One look at the assortment and it’s clear that Lesley has intentionally crafted every element of the line—from science-driven formulations to customer education to a sustainable business model. But her path to a crystal-clear brand vision wasn’t a linear one. Hear how Lesley went from working as a freelance makeup artist to an on-air beauty expert for the TLC network to opening her own esthetics private practice before embarking on a line of her own on this week’s episode of Second Life.

Ep 134Sarah Sherman Samuel: Interior, Product, and Textile Designer
Sarah Sherman Samuel is a multidisciplinary designer working with interiors, textiles, products, and decorative arts, which she curates together to create truly remarkable spaces. She’s designed everything from rugs and wallpaper to hardware and tiles to the gorgeous homes of celebrities and tastemakers like Mandy Moore and Garance Dóre. One look at her stunning Instagram feed and the unique, blended aesthetics will give you more design inspiration than you’ll know what to do with. But before Sherman Samuel found herself on the interiors path, she bounced between many different creative projects—from graphic design to wedding and event design to photography and art direction. Hear how she’s used each one of those experiences to create interiors we can’t help but fawn over on this episode of Second Life.

Ep 133Tia Mowry-Hardrict: Actress, Producer, Author, and Founder of Anser
Tia Mowry-Hardrict first graced our screens back in the early ’90s as one half of the iconic twin duo in the hit sitcom Sister Sister. Since then, she’s gone on to star in countless other projects—everything from Twitches to The Game to her beloved Youtube Channel, Tia Mowry’s Quick Fix—and over the years, she’s also added producer and best-selling author to her resumé. But after years of success in the entertainment industry, she’s used her hard-earned skills (among them, a healthy dose of persistence and fortitude) to found a company that’s inspiring women of all backgrounds to take charge of their wellness with her line of supplements called Anser. Hear how Tia has achieved longevity as an actress and forged her way into a new industry altogether on this episode of Second Life.

Ep 132Suzy Batiz: Poo-Pourri and Supernatural Founder and CEO
ESuzy Batiz is a truly self-made female entrepreneur, and a successful one at that. Between her two businesses, the before-you-go toilet spray Poo~Pourri, and her line of natural cleaning concentrates, Supernatural, her empire is valued at over $500 million. But getting there was a long road filled with over 27 career changes, an abusive marriage, and two bankruptcies. Hear how Suzy persevered and overcame it all, on this episode of Second Life.

Ep 131Nyakio Grieco: Founder of Nyakio Beauty
Nyakio Grieco is the founder and creator of Nyakio Beauty, an award-winning line of skincare products initially inspired by her own Kenyan heritage and family’s beauty recipes. Since its launch in 2002, Nyakio has expanded to include cultural traditions from 13 countries around the world that have been historically underrepresented in mainstream beauty and skincare. Today, the products are beloved and highly accessible via Target.com, but Grieco’s entrepreneurial journey wasn’t easy. After much perseverance and many brand resets, her purpose became clear: “I’m here to help other women, young women who look like me, know that they can do this.” Hear how Grieco went from working in talent representation at some of the biggest agencies in Hollywood to navigating and pushing for meaningful change within the beauty world on this episode of Second Life.

Ep 130Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan: Creators of Go Fug Yourself and Best-Selling Authors
EHeather Cocks and Jessica Morgan have been writing together since they founded their witty celebrity fashion blog, Go Fug Yourself, back in 2004 as a way to procrastinate from their day jobs. Today, not only are the “Fug Girls” pioneers in the space, but they’ve also received rave reviews as novelists with the best-selling The Royal We—loosely based on the courtship of Prince WIlliam and Kate Middleton—and the highly anticipated sequel, The Heir Affair, which just hit bookshelves on July 7. But before they were writing novels, the ladies were working as TV series recappers, writing about shows such as Judging Amy and Making the Band, before parlaying that experience into working in the world of reality TV. Hear how the pair pivoted from digital to print and ultimately found their stride in balancing the two on today’s episode of Second Life.

Ep 129Aminatou Sow: Call Your Girlfriend Host and Author of Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close
EAminatou Sow is the co-host of Call Your Girlfriend, the “podcast for long-distance besties everywhere,” alongside her Big Friend and collaborator, Ann Friedman. On July 14th, the pair released their first book together, Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close, which has already amassed praise by everyone from Hillary Clinton to Roxane Gay to Vogue. But before Aminatou was a literary thought leader and media legend, she had a previous life in tech where she worked for Google and co-founded the Tech LadyMafia, a network for women who work “in and around tech.” And before that? She worked at a social media agency as an analyst and at a think tank in DC. Hear how all her experience has converged into one impressive and admirable career path on this episode of Second Life. To order Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close, head to www.bigfriendship.com

Ep 128Karen Young: Oui the People Founder and CEO
Karen Young, Founder and CEO of Oui the People, is building an entirely new shaving experience for women and non-binary people. By creating a stainless-steel safety razor designed specifically for sensitive skin, luxurious personal-care products, and a brand that speaks to women intelligently and relatably, it’s no surprise that her products keep selling out time and again and have over 400 5-star reviews on the brand’s site. But there have been many twists and turns along the way. On this episode of Second Life, hear how Karen went from working as an account executive for brands like Dolce & Gabbana to founding her own home interiors line to managing packaging operations at Estee Lauder, before she turned the shaving industry on its head.

Ep 127Lauren Chan: Henning Founder and CEO
ELauren Chan started her career as a plus-size model alongside women like Ashley Graham and Candice Huffine at Ford Models. With a foot in the fashion industry’s door, she parlayed her career into writing and freelanced for publications such as Vogue and Interview before becoming a fashion features editor at Glamour, where she had her own column on size inclusivity. In her latest pivot, she’s taken body inclusivity activism to the next level by founding Henning, a high-end workwear brand for sizes 12 and up. Hear how Chan’s career in fashion led her to solve a problem she was experiencing firsthand in the latest episode of Second Life.

Ep 126Brett Heyman: Edie Parker Founder and Creative Director
EBrett Heyman is the founder of Edie Parker, the vintage-inspired acrylic handbag and accessories brand seen on virtually every red carpet ever. But just last year, Brett pivoted the brand in an unexpected way: into a cannabis accessories and private label flower company named Flower by Edie Parker. Find out how working in PR for brands like Gucci and Dolce and Gabbana led her to create an iconic brand of her own.

Ep 125Miranda Kerr: Supermodel and Kora Organics Founder and CEO
From signing on as Victoria’s Secret’s first Australian Angel to walking the Balenciaga runway while five months pregnant, Miranda Kerr cemented her status as an international supermodel years ago. On this episode of Second Life, hear how she used her experience in a surprising way: to found certified-organic skincare and beauty brand Kora Organics.

Ep 124Alison Cayne: Founder of Haven’s Kitchen Sauces, Cooking School, and Café
EAlison Cayne is the founder of Haven’s Kitchen, a brand on a mission to make home cooking more enjoyable via a NY-based cooking school, café, event space, and line of all-natural refrigerated sauces available across the U.S. at grocers like Whole Foods. But before she set out to change the way people feel about cooking, she was busy raising five children. In this week’s episode, hear Cayne’s personal journey to finding professional alignment.

Ep 123Shelley Gibbs Sanders: The Last Line Founder and Creative Director
EShelley Gibbs Sanders worked in the jewelry industry for over 15 years designing for brands like House of Harlow 1960, A.L.C., and Rachel Zoe before she set out to create The Last Line, a direct-to-consumer brand that turned the traditional fine-jewelry model on its head. Find out how she finally took the leap to found her own game-changing brand on this week’s episode of Second Life.

Ep 122Gucci Westman: Makeup Artist and Westman Atelier Founder and Creative Director
EProlific makeup artist Gucci Westman has one of the most influential careers in the beauty world. She’s responsible for the makeup on countless magazine covers (Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar) and in ad campaign and runway looks for the likes of Dior, Proenza Schouler, and Oscar de la Renta, and has a celebrity client list that spans the past two decades. Now, she’s the founder and creative director of Westman Atelier, a line of clean, high-performance, and luxurious beauty products. Hear how she made the leap, plus incredible behind-the-scenes stories from her famed career, on this episode of Second Life.

Ep 121Joy Cho: Oh Joy! Founder, Creative Director, and Author
EJoy Cho is the founder of Oh Joy!, a design studio, lifestyle brand, and creative hub where she brings her signature aesthetic to the masses. Oh Joy! has licensed product lines in home décor, kids apparel, pet products, and so much more at retailers including Target, Anthropologie, Calpak, and Petco. As if that weren’t enough, Joy has also authored three books for adults, and most recently, a three-part book series for children. On this episode of Second Life, hear how Joy leveraged her education in graphic design and killer marketing skills to accomplish it all.

Ep 120Lisa Price: Carol's Daughter Founder
EMulticultural beauty brand Carol’s Daughter has retained a cult-like following since the ’90s, with brand evangelists including Halle Berry, Jada Pinkett Smith, and yes, Oprah. But when founder Lisa Price started dabbling in aromatherapy oils out of her Brooklyn apartment, her days looked quite different. She worked as a production coordinator on television programs like The Cosby Show, and it wasn’t until Price’s mother, Carol, pushed her to sell her products at a local flea market that her hobby became something much more. Tune in to hear what Price finds particularly valuable about her early career in television production and how she built her company from the ground up.

Ep 119Catherine McCord: Culinary Entrepreneur and Cookbook Author
Catherine McCord, founder of healthy-eating destination Weelicious.com, author of three cookbooks, and co-founder of the family-friendly food-delivery service One Potato, has built a healthy-living empire. Not exactly the career path you might expect from a former Calvin Klein and Victoria's Secret runway model. Find out how McCord made the pivot and the best skills she’s using from her modeling days on this episode of Second Life.

Ep 118Sali Christeson: Argent Founder & CEO
Sali Christeson, the founder and CEO of the brand revolutionizing women's workwear, Argent, is creating professional, practical and vibrant pieces to equip women with the confidence they need to shatter the glass ceiling. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Christeson used her past career as a finance and tech exec as a tool to pivot into creating a brand that provides a solution for women around the world.